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Literacy coaching is a professional
development method that increases the level of implementation of new instructional
practices. Teachers receive by individualized assistance in applying new
learning to classroom practice that, ultimately, lead to improved student
achievement. Coaches offers support to teachers by:
- Observation of new instructional practices,
- Participation in professional book study groups,
- Collaborative analysis of student assessment data,
- Reflection on current instructional practices,
- Modeling instructional practices for colleagues, or
- Gaining feedback on current instructional practice.
Why use coaching?
- Research shows a coaching component increases the level of classroom
use of new instructional practices
- Coaching provides support and feedback to teachers
- Coaching can include many varieties of support and professional development
Lessons Learned:
At the district level, educators
must have
- Well defined goals for the coaching program. These goals need to be
clearly communicated to all staff
- Adequate time for professional development and coaching activities
between coaches and teachers
- Ongoing professional development. Coaches require ongoing professional
development that allows them to continue to build their knowledge of
literacy content and coaching strategies so that they can meet the changing
needs of classroom teachers.
- The most successful coaching programs are integrated with other district
improvement initiatives and district staff must make and maintain these
connections.
At the school level,
- Coaching programs need the ongoing support of the building principal
who must
- ensure that there is adequate time for coaching activities to
take place and
- create a school culture that encourages teachers to participate
in those activities.
- For coaching programs to be successful the principal and the coach
must continuously inform and remind staff of the goals of the coaching
initiative, and the coach's non-evaluative role in helping teachers
work toward the program's goals.
See also, the following examples
of literacy technical assistance.
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