Let’s think for a moment about our coaching language. What are the phrases you find yourself using the most as part of your coaching cycles? Maybe you use some of these:

Who knew that such a simple metaphor could yield such rich conversations and actions around solving instructional challenges? 

I am a reader. A always-have-a-book-in-my-bag-please-help-me-find-time-to-read-it kind of reader. And I savor the words, collecting them in my journal for later reflection.

I have a small Moleskine notebook that accompanies me wherever I go, just as Peak Marcello did as he climbed Mount Everest in Roland Smith’s Peak.

I’ve always been fascinated by what coaches do and why they do it. In fact, I spent three years studying multiple literacy coaches in multiple districts as part of my dissertation.

And you know what I found out?

Literacy coaches do A LOT of things….but they sometimes don’t realize the reality of their coaching activities until they are spelled out in a tangible way, preferably on paper and with colorful markers. =)

I love the start of a brand new year because I absolutely, positively adore creating visions. There’s just something about sitting down and imagining the best version of my future self that fires me up and gets me going.

I create visions in a few ways: I draw pictures of the life I want to have, I create 6-word stories to act as a mantra for my work life, I write my ideal job description and even have fun creating the perfect day. I may have even been known to create a pinterest board or two around these visions.

There’s just one problem.

I’m not nearly as good at bringing these visions to life as I am at dreaming them up.

Until now.