One idea a week for strengthening Tier 1 instruction.

Each Insight teaches one strategy and gives you a tool you can use that day. For anyone who teaches, coaches, or leads. Read it here, free. Join to get the tool in your inbox.

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Formative Assessment

How to Have Data Chats With Teachers as an Instructional Coach

Oct 13, 2026 · Issue 36

How to Have Data Chats With Teachers as an Instructional Coach

The conversation that turns a spreadsheet into a shared goal.

Coaching Foundations

Simple Ways to Give Gratitude to Teachers as an Instructional Coach

Sep 29, 2026 · Issue 35

Simple Ways to Give Gratitude to Teachers as an Instructional Coach

A note, a treat, and a kind word: the smallest things a coach does are the ones teachers remember.

Coaching Foundations

How to Run a Virtual Book Study for Teacher Professional Development

Sep 15, 2026 · Issue 34

How to Run a Virtual Book Study for Teacher Professional Development

Planning, interaction, and accountability for professional development that happens on a screen.

This week · Issue 36 · Oct 13, 2026

Formative Assessment and Feedback Coaches

How to Have Data Chats With Teachers as an Instructional Coach

A data chat is a planned, one-on-one conversation between an instructional coach and a teacher about specific data from that teacher's classroom. It helps the two of you decide which standards need more emphasis, opens an honest dialogue, and gives you a common goal. Prepare the teacher ahead of time, start positive, focus on one or two standards, and leave with a plan.

Read the issue Get the data chat protocol

The tool from this issue

Who it's for

All Teachers Coaches Leaders

Anchor

Classroom Environment and Routines Classroom Culture and Relationships Behavior Management and Self-Regulation Curriculum Internalization and Lesson Planning Explicit Instruction and Gradual Release Academic Discourse and Questioning Academic Vocabulary Writing Across the Curriculum Metacognition and Student Ownership Practice and Retrieval Differentiation and Scaffolding Formative Assessment and Feedback Rigorous Tasks and Application Coaching Foundations

Issue 6

Issue 6 · Dec 19, 2023 · Classroom Culture and Relationships · Coaches

How to Coach a Resistant Teacher Without Losing the Relationship

A resistant teacher is rarely a bad teacher. Resistance comes from fear, fatigue, culture, or life. Here's how coaches read it and respond with empathy.

Download: Difficult Teacher Reflection and Strategy Planner

Issue 5

Issue 5 · Oct 24, 2023 · Classroom Culture and Relationships · Coaches

Why Teachers Won’t Let You Coach Them Until They Know You Care

Teachers won't let a coach influence them until they believe the coach cares. Five practices create an environment of caring, confidentiality first.

Download: Environment of Caring Reflection Guide

Issue 4

Issue 4 · Sep 12, 2023 · Coaching Foundations · Coaches

How Instructional Coaches Build Trust With Teachers

Teachers won't let you into their classrooms until they trust you. Nine practices coaches use to build trust, and why resistance is usually about life.

Download: Trust-Building Self-Reflection Tool

Issue 3

Issue 3 · Jul 18, 2023 · Coaching Foundations · Coaches

Instructional Coaching Best Practices for Your First Years in the Role

The coaches who thrive put nine best practices into action every day: be present, keep confidences, keep promises, listen, reflect. Here's the list.

Download: Coaching Best Practices Self-Check

Issue 2

Issue 2 · Apr 11, 2023 · Coaching Foundations · Coaches, Leaders

What Does an Instructional Coach Do? The Role in Action

An instructional coach rotates through ten roles, from data coach to classroom supporter to learner. Here's what each looks like and why naming them helps.

Download: The 10 Hats of Instructional Coaching Reflection Guide

Issue 1

Issue 1 · Jan 17, 2023 · Coaching Foundations · Coaches, Leaders