The Effective Literacy Coach

This innovative book moves beyond the day-to-day matters of coaching to a deeper examination of how literacy coaching can improve instructional practice. The authors offer research-based strategies that can be used to create the professional and dynamic relationships needed for successful teacher–coach collaborations. Readers will hear the voices of coaches as they analyze their own efforts to scaffold adult learning, guide collaborative inquiry, and support teacher reflection. Featuring concrete examples, this practical book: Provides a model for literacy coaches to analyze and examine their own practice. Details the importance of systematic observation of teaching and how to use observation to shape subsequent coaching sessions. Examines guiding teacher inquiry in whole groups, small groups, and pairs, to reflect and act on teaching and coaching. Charts the usefulness of teachers and coaches talking about teaching, and how this supports the change of teaching practices. “The authors have provided a rich description of what literacy coaches actually do as they work daily with teachers. Each chapter is soundly grounded in the research literature but goes beyond it to provide many practical examples.” —From the Foreword by Gay Su Pinnell, The Ohio State University “The authors deal deftly with key aspects of coaching that characterize successful coaches and for which even the most knowledgeable literacy coaches are often ill-prepared. An excellent resource for anyone whose responsibilities sometimes include the role of coach.” —Dorothy S. Strickland, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Whether you're new to literacy coaching or a seasoned coach, here's a resource with more than 50 easy-to-use tools for improving literacy instruction, honing your coaching skills, and creating an effective literacy program in grades K-12. All tools are also available for download.

Describes instructional dialogue, professional support in which a coach provides feedback to a teacher based on observation of and interaction in that teacher's classroom. Includes a DVD of instructional dialogue between teacher and coach, focused on literacy.

What does it mean to be an effective literacy coach? Former teacher and veteran literacy coach Stephanie Affinito shares a core set of beliefs about literacy coaching and how it can transform teacher and student learning. While chart paper, sticky notes, and notebooks will always be essential teaching tools, Stephanie shows that by thoughtfully incorporating digital tools into your coaching, you can personalize teacher learning even more and provide greater options to increase motivation and collaboration. In Literacy Coaching, she explores the ways coaches and teachers can incorporate technology to: cultivate and innovate teacher learning communities redesign professional development collaborate to impact and elevate student learning find inspiration for their continued journey. Technology is changing the way we work, learn, and play. It has the ability to expand what is possible for teachers and students. Stephanie offers concrete steps to enhance coaching with both digital and non-digital tools. Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen teaching practice and elevate the level of literacy instruction in classrooms and schools. Literacy Coaching is not just about coaching with technology; it's about making teacher learning more meaningful, relevant, and student-centered. Match teachers with the right tools to help bring teaching ideas and goals to life.

Literacy Coaching gets into the nitty-gritty, offering experience-honed advice on these and numerous other important coaching functions: gathering materials, gaining entry, and getting started, taking notes while observing teachers and students, teaching side by side with a host teacher and debriefing afterward, running powerful workshops, visitations, and meetings, developing trusting relationships, using data to uncover areas of instructional need, coaching strategies and language."

Learn how to become a more effective literacy coach to ensure lasting changes in teaching and learning at your school. Literacy experts Diana and Betsy Sisson offer clear, research-based strategies that encourage professional development and growth. You’ll discover how to... Understand the various roles that a literacy coach plays, from "change agent" to "data analyst"; Determine which coaching model to use with your teachers; Support your classroom colleagues and raise student achievement; Tackle the literacy concerns present in today's schools, and any resistance from classroom teachers who don't want to be coached; Design a plan to promote growth centered on assessment and collaboration; and Manage the multi-faceted responsibilities of literacy coaching with practical strategies. Each chapter contains special features such as Coaching Moves and Coaching Questions to help you apply the information to your own situation. In addition, an Appendix offers photocopiable PD tools and study guide questions so you can discuss the ideas with others. With this practical book, you'll have all the guidance you need to overcome challenges and thrive in your coaching role.

Too many adolescent learners still struggle with reading. This much-needed guide shows how to support teachers in providing effective literacy instruction in the content areas, which can be intensified as needed within a multi-tiered framework. Adaptive Intervention Model (AIM) Coaching was created for grades 6–8, but is equally applicable in high school. The book gives instructional coaches an accessible blueprint for evaluating, developing, and reinforcing each teacher's capacity to implement evidence-based literacy practices. User-friendly features include case studies, end-of-chapter reflection questions and key terms, and reproducible tools. Purchasers get access to a companion website where they can download and print the reproducible materials--plus supplemental lesson plans and other resources--in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

Expert coaches and anyone coaching for the first time will love The Literacy Coach! Reviewers Sum it up! "The framework in which this book is embedded is one of the more elegant ones in existence." Donna Alvermann, The University of Georgia "I found this book to be helpful to not only literacy coaches, but to classroom teachers who may want to become coaches or merely better understand their roles. I also believe building principals would find the book extremely useful...I only wish I had been given such access to all of this information five years ago!" Amy Ely, Brush Middle School Take a peek inside... Supports the professional development of literacy coaches by a) giving a comprehensive look at how learners learn vs. just learning to read; b) implementing the idea of categorizing coaching points (into three broad categories) to economize on time and attention; and c) including three levels of observations (primary, secondary, and tertiary). Includes a description of the four cornerstones of any successful school reform model: students, teachers, administrators, and the literacy coach. Considers the NRP report andIRA's Standards for Literacy Coaches. Meet the Authors Enrique A. Puig is the Director of the Florida Literacy and Reading Excellence Center at the University of Central Florida. He is a certified Reading Recovery teacher and Literacy Collaborative trainer. In addition to being president of the Orange County Reading Council (Florida), Enrique serves as an elected board member of the American Reading Forum and continues to work with students. He is author of Guided Reading and Spanish Speaking Students (Scholastic). Kathy S. Froelich received her Ph.D. from Fordham University in New York and has provided professional development opportunities to teachers and literacy coaches at the national level. In addition to her years of classroom teaching experience, Kathy has taught at Agnes Scott College and Thomas University. She is currently teaching at Florida State University and is an independent consultant.