25 Tips for Instructional Coaches and Leaders

  • Instructional Coaches Need to Know How Memory Works – And It’s Not a Muscle

    I often hear memory described as a muscle—something that gets stronger the more you “work it out.” While the sentiment is well-intentioned, it’s a misleading metaphor. Our memory isn’t a single entity that we can simply beef up through brute force. It’s a complex system, and for instructional coaches, understanding its nuances is a game-changer…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.

  • Digital Learning Today Podcast Appearance: Episode 66 – Crush it From the Start – Top Tips for Instructional Coaches

    On the Digital Learning Today Podcast, Dr. Matt Rhoads discusses his new book ‘Crush It From the Start: 25 Tips for Instructional Coaches and Leaders’ with host Jeffrey Bradbury. They explore the importance of organization, key themes from the book, and practical tips for instructional coaches. Dr. Rhoads emphasizes the significance of understanding cognitive science,…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.

  • The Power of Rehearsal: The Most Overlooked Step in Instructional Coaching

    Instructional coaching is a powerful tool for transforming teaching and learning, but one of its most underutilized strategies within instructional coaching is lesson rehearsal by the teacher being coached—a safe, structured opportunity for teachers to practice new instructional strategies before implementing them in the classroom. In my upcoming book, Crush it from the Start: 25…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.

  • Crush it from the Start: 25 Tips for Instructional Coaches and Leaders is Now Available!

    Today marks the release of my new book—a resource designed for instructional coaches, principals, assistant principals, college of education professors, and district office leaders who are committed to transforming teaching and learning in the modern classroom. This book isn’t just about coaching strategies; it’s about understanding the content necessary to navigate education in the age of AI. To coach…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.

  •  The Diffusion of Innovation and Instructional Coaching

    In my recent podcast episode, Ep 77 – The Diffusion of Innovation and Instructional Coaching, I explore how this model directly impacts our approach to instructional coaching. I discuss real-world examples from my experience share insights on overcoming resistance, and offer strategies for effectively coaching educators through the change process to allow ideas to diffuse through…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.

  • Creating Instructional Coaching Systems – To Build Teacher Efficacy and Capacity

    By: Matt Rhoads, Ed.D Dr. Matt Rhoads is a Tech and Instructional Leader and Innovator with hands in Adult Ed, K-12, and Higher Education. He is the author of several books and is the host of Navigating Education – The Podcast. A major part of my role is to provide instructional and EdTech integration coaching to teachers. The…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.

  • Proving Our Impact: How Instructional Coaches Can Use Regression Analysis to Demonstrate Their Value

    Recently, my PLN colleague Roxi Thompson posed some compelling questions on LinkedIn: How do you collect data to demonstrate the impact of your coaching program? What methods have you found effective, especially in showing improvement in areas like instructional design or student learning? As instructional coaches, these are the questions we must answer to advocate…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.

  • Instructional Coaching: Supporting Teachers Integrating Worked Examples and Frontloading to Amplify Instruction

    Within classroom instruction, “Worked Examples” and “Frontloading Models” play pivotal roles in enhancing student understanding and reducing cognitive overload when learning content. Let’s delve into what these terms mean and how instructional coaches can help teachers implement them within their classroom instruction. First, we will focus on what Worked Examples and Frontloading Models are and…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.

  • The Modern Instructional Coach

    In today’s ever-changing classrooms and schools, teachers find themselves at the crossroads of traditional teaching methods and the emerging challenges of the 21st-century classroom. Teachers are tasked with utilizing high-impact instructional strategies, integrating technology, adapting to diverse learning needs, and managing an array of behavioral dynamics, all while striving to maintain academic rigor and meet state…

    Matthew Rhoads, Ed.D.