The Literacy Coach's Game Plan: Making Teacher Collaboration, Student Learning, and School Improvement a Reality Book

About the Authors ix

Preface xi

Chapter 1 Preseason 1

What Do Literacy Coaches Actually Do? 4

Qualifications: What Do You Need to Be a Successful Coach? 7

Finding Balance in Your Role 10

Student Work: The Literacy Coach's Way In 13

Moving Beyond Test Scores to Find Formative Data 15

How Can Coaches Use Formative Data? 16

What Is Formative Coaching? 19

How Can Formative Coaching Help Me? 20

Taking Stock 24

Reflecting and Extending 25

Questions to Consider 25

Chapter 2 Stepping Onto the Playing Field 27

Step 1 Building Relationships 29

Step 2 Learning About the Data in Your School 46

Reflecting and Extending 56

Questions to Consider 56

Chapter 3 The Game Plan 57

Getting Prepared for One-on-One Coaching 59

Building Your Knowledge About Differentiation 61

Differentiating Your Coaching 64

Introducing the Cycle Into Your Coaching 69

Strategies for Understanding Formative Work 73

Formative Data Techniques in Action: Coaching Case Studies 81

Reflecting and Extending 91

Questions to Consider 92

Chapter 4 Batter Up! 93

Gathering Multiple Types of Data 95

Introducing Data Collection Tools 96

Techniques for Collecting Data 98

The Power of Collaborative Teaching: Strategies for Meaningful Collaboration 106

Planning Your Support with the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model 177

The Toughest Job: Providing Meaningful Feedback 123

Formative Coaching Case Study 131

Reflecting and Extending 136

Questions to Consider 137

Chapter 5 The Huddle: Developing the Professional Learning Community 138

Step 1 Research and Define the Meaning of a Professional Learning Community 141

Step 2 Determine How to Approach Human Resources and Structural Resources Within Your Professional Learning Community 142

Step 3 Target Three Literacy Priorities for the Professional Learning Community 149

Step 4 Assess and Celebrate Community Progress 163

Overcoming Inherent Challenges of the Professional Learning Community 166

Reflecting and Extending 174

Questions to Consider 174

Chapter 6 Establishing a Winning Record: Coaching for School Change 175

How to Get Started 180

Action Research 183

The Playbook: Implementing a Cycle of Action Research 184

Reflecting and Extending 193

Questions to Consider 194

Chapter 7 The Legacy of Your Coaching 195

Rolling With the Punches 197

Your Legacy 203

Why We Coach 203

Reflecting and Extending 205

Questions to Consider 206

Appendix A Reproducibles 207

Appendix B Protocols 224

References 237

Index 241