"A very hands-on approach to helping teachers, parents, students, and the community. Coaches are not only given the theory behind what they do, but also the knowledge of how to implement the research and theory." —Emme Barnes, Literacy Facilitator Hawk Ridge Elementary, Charlotte, NC "This superior text clarifies the responsibilities, qualifications, and capabilities of the coach within and without the school and as a leadership partner." —Connie Molony, Reading-Language Arts Specialist Fargo Public Schools, ND An essential guide to the "what" and the "how" of literacy coaching! Literacy coaches regularly encounter practical and theoretical issues, ranging from decoding national and state coaching requirements to understanding how to work effectively with all students, including those with special needs. This practical guide presents effective coaching strategies and best practices for enhancing literacy instruction and student performance across all grade levels. Ideal for individual or group professional development, this text covers skill requirements for coaching and describes four roles of effective coaches: facilitator, observer, colleague, and learner. Readers will find sample scenarios, advice from recognized literacy experts, and topic extensions for study groups, as well as: Information on NCLB, Reading First, and Reading Next requirements Insight into developing relationships with school administrators Tips for coaching difficult or noncompliant teachers Practical recommendations for first-year coaches A Guide to Literacy Coaching illuminates the many practical strategies literacy coaches, mentors, teacher leaders, and staff developers can use to collaborate with multiple school constituencies to promote teacher development and schoolwide literacy success.

Looks at the key considerations school leaders and literacy coaches must keep in mind when determining program focus and scope and describes the roles, responsibilities, and procedures involved in each coaching format.

When the goal is supporting excellent teaching, there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach. This popular practitioner resource and text helps readers navigate the many choices involved in developing and fine-tuning a coaching program that offers the best fit for a particular school. The authors draw on current research as well as their extensive experience in K-8 settings. They provide clear guidance (with helpful reproducibles) on: *Major coaching models and how to choose among them. *Applying principles of adult learning and motivation. *The role of reading assessment in coaching. *Balancing classroom-level, grade-level, and whole-school tasks. *Special considerations in middle school coaching. See also The Literacy Coach's Handbook, Second Edition, which offers a complete primer on the role of the literacy coach and what coaches need to know to get started.

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.

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

"An excellent resource for both beginning and experienced literacy coaches. This well-conceived book is grounded in a realistic understanding of what it means to work collaboratively and effectively in the demanding world of today′s schools." —Dorothy S. Strickland, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Professor of Education Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey "If a coach could only have one book to help with the daunting task of advancing teachers′ instructional knowledge and skills, then this is the text to own. Coaches everywhere have been waiting for a book like this!" —Connie Molony, Reading Intervention Specialist Fargo Public Schools, ND A concise reference with essential protocols for successful early literacy coaching! Literacy coaches have become an increasingly important part of school literacy teams. As a result, there is a greater need for understanding the issues related to this growing position. This book addresses those issues and highlights the expanding role of literacy coaches in early and elementary literacy programs. Chapters feature user-friendly guidelines and evidence-based strategies for sustained professional development, protocols for classroom observations and teacher conferences, and vignettes offering solutions to common coaching challenges. Coaches will discover how to: Define an effective, proactive role in promoting literacy initiatives Strengthen content knowledge and coaching skills to support teachers′ efforts and students′ literacy development Collaborate with teachers and school leaders to establish productive learning communities Communicate their changing roles to administrators Insightful and thought-provoking, The Literacy Coach′s Companion, PreK–3 is a must-have resource for pursuing professional growth as a literacy coach.

Now more than ever, the roles and responsibilities of today’s literacy professionals are expanding. Many recent developments require a closer look at the changing careers of reading specialists, coaches, and administrators leading to an emphasis on increased collaboration and coaching, integration of standards, and student improvement initiatives. Both scholarly and practical, Reading Specialists and Literacy Coaches in the Real World provides the support and guidance both literacy and content area teachers need. The learning goals and outcomes in each chapter are aligned with ILA’s Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals 2017, providing opportunities for group inquiry and new perspectives on professional learning. The authors examine the historical, political, and social forces that shape evidence-based practice and incorporate significant developments in intervention, assessment, and adolescent literacy. Their impact on instruction and the needs of students are studied in conjunction with RtI/MTSS programs, progress monitoring and differentiation, instructional technologies related to twenty-first century literacies, updated information about effective academic language instruction for English learners, and a moral imperative for fostering equity, social justice, and global perspectives. The Fourth Edition also provides Resource Materials to support the text, giving it a great deal of flexibility to explore projects for portfolios and self-assessment. In the real world, as learners among learners, literacy professionals use their experiences and voices for advocacy to help prepare students for success in their lives and careers.

Helping coaches to define their roles, this resource provides practical tools and guidance about decision-making, design needs, professional development for teachers, collaborative relationships, and helping teachers use data.

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.

This authoritative text and practitioner resource has now been extensively revised and expanded with 70% new material covering new topics and standards in literacy leadership. Prominent experts present research-based methods for improving instruction, assessment, and professional learning experiences in PreK–12. The distinct roles of teachers, reading/literacy specialists, literacy coaches, special educators, and principals are explored, with an emphasis on fostering a culture of collaboration. Chapters highlight the standards that apply to each component of a schoolwide literacy program, give examples of what they look like in schools, and share implications for classroom practice and professional learning. Pedagogical features include guiding questions, case examples, vignettes, engagement activities, and annotated resources for further learning. New to This Edition *Now copublished with the International Literacy Association (ILA) and grounded in ILA's updated Standards 2017; expanded grade range includes PreK. *Chapters on new topics: writing instruction, sustaining schoolwide improvements, and collaborative leadership. *New chapters on core topics: the principal’s role, assessment, middle and high school literacy programs, special education, and culturally responsive instruction. *Vignettes from leaders in diverse roles, “Think About This” questions for discussion/reflection, and end-of-chapter annotated resources.