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The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching

What Every K-12 Coach and School Leader Needs to Know

By: Diane R. Sweeney, Leanna S. Harris

Grounded in the latest research and practical experience, this book is the essential guide for practicing Student-Centered Coaching across grade levels and content areas.

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Product Details

Grade Level: PreK-12
ISBN: 9781544375359
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2020
Page Count: 192
Publication date: April 30, 2020

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Review copies may be requested by individuals planning to purchase 10 or more copies for a team or considering a book for adoption in a higher ed course. To request a review copy, contact sales@corwin.com.

Description

Insights, ideas, and inspiration to keep student learning at the center of instructional coaching

Diane Sweeney and Leanna Harris, whose best-selling books have influenced the practice of thousands of K-12 coaches, frame how Student-Centered Coaching serves as an evidence-based model of professional learning that focuses on student outcomes. Shifting the focus from “fixing” teachers to partnering with them to reach goals for student learning takes coaching to the heart of what matters most in schools. The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching includes all-new material that is grounded in the latest research and the authors’ extensive experience in the field of coaching. In it, readers will find

An emphasis on how coaching can be asset-based and focused on equity
Current research in adult learning and professional development
Examples of how to integrate curriculum into coaching cycles
Anecdotes that illustrate what Student-Centered Coaching looks like across grade levels and content areas

Designed to accompany Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves (Corwin, 2017) and Leading Student-Centered Coaching (2019), The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching provides the reader with a clear vision for how coaching can promote both teacher and student learning.

"In an honest and heartfelt voice, Diane and Leanna provide guidance and practical advice to help coaches navigate the complexities associated with their role. Diane and Leanna's passion to ensure that student learning stays at the center of improvement work is evident throughout this book as they paint a path of implementation for coaching that will help educators in realizing collective impact."

--Jenni Donohoo, Author and Consultant

Author(s)

Diane R. Sweeney

Diane Sweeney has been an author and educational consultant since 1999. The author of Moves for Launching a New Year of Student-Centered Coaching (Corwin, 2022), Student-Centered Coaching from a Distance (Corwin, 2021), The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching (Corwin, 2020), Leading Student-Centered Coaching (Corwin, 2018), and Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves (Corwin, 2016), Diane holds a longstanding interest in how adult learning translates to learning in the classroom. Diane holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Denver and a Master’s in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. After teaching and coaching in the Denver Public Schools, Diane served as a program officer at the Public Education & Business Coalition (PEBC) in Denver. Since then, she has become a respected voice in the field of coaching and professional development.

Leanna S. Harris

Leanna Harris is the author of The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching (Corwin, 2020) and Student-Centered Coaching:The Moves (Corwin, 2016). She has worked as a teacher, coach, and consultant across grades K-12 and currently works with Diane Sweeney Consulting to help schools and districts implement student-centered coaching. Her work is based upon the belief that professional development for teachers is most effective when it is grounded in outcomes for student achievement - for every child, every day.

Leanna is a passionate skier and cyclist. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and three kids.

Table of Contents

List of Figures

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Introduction

Why This Book Now?

Guiding Principles and Core Practices

The Path to Implementation of Student-Centered Coaching

Chapter 1. Why Student-Centered Coaching Matters

We Don’t Have Time to Waste

How Student-Centered Coaching Compares With Other Approaches to Coaching

Core Practices for Student-Centered Coaching

Creating an Ecosystem for Professional Learning and Coaching

Coaching Toward Sustainability

Connections to the Visible Learning Research

Lesson From the Field

Tools and Techniques

A Final Thought

Chapter 2. Coaching Cycles: An Essential Practice

What Is a Coaching Cycle?

Making Time for Coaching Cycles

What About Curriculum, Programs, and Classroom Management?

What About Coaching Cycles With Groups?

Lesson From the Field

Tools and Techniques

A Final Thought

Chapter 3. Understanding Our Impact

Collect Anecdotal Evidence Through Exit Interviews

Other Ways to Use the Results-Based Coaching Tool

Monitoring Focus on a Unified Goal

Lesson From the Field

Tools and Techniques

A Final Thought

Chapter 4. Student-Centered Coaching Conversations

What Does Student-Centered Coaching Sound Like?

Crafting Conversations That Are Learning Focused

Providing Strengths-Based Feedback

Strengths-Based Feedback Within Coaching Cycles

Questioning and Listening

Lesson From the Field

Tools and Techniques

A Final Thought

Chapter 5. Building a Culture Where Student-Centered Coaching Thrives

Fostering a Culture of Learning

Embrace the Mess of Learning, With Every Member of the Community Taking the Stance of Learner

Use Student Evidence and Data to Drive Decision-Making

Reflect On and Adjust Practice Based on the Needs of Students

Use Shared Decision-Making so Teachers’ Voices, Experiences, and Perspectives Are Taken Into Account

Focus School Improvement Efforts on a Single Goal or Strategy

Lesson From the Field

Tools and Techniques

A Final Thought

Chapter 6. Systems to Make Student-Centered Coaching Happen

Marketing and Messaging

Organize the Year Into Coaching Rounds

Start Small and Gain Momentum

Consistently Monitor for Impact

Lesson From the Field

Tools and Techniques

A Final Thought

Chapter 7. Supporting and Evaluating Coaches

First Things First: Hire Effective Coaches

What to Look For When Hiring Coaches

Provide Job-Embedded Support Through Coaching Labs

A Curriculum to Support New Coaches

Tools and Processes for Evaluating Coaches

The Role of the District in Supporting Student-Centered Coaching

Lesson From the Field

Tools and Techniques

A Final Thought

Resources

References

Index

Reviews

"In an honest and heartfelt voice, Diane and Leanna provide guidance and practical advice to help coaches navigate the complexities associated with their role. Diane and Leanna's passion to ensure that students’ learning stays at the center of improvement work is evident throughout this book as they paint a path of implementation for coaching that will help educators in realizing collective impact."

Jenni Donohoo
Author and Consultant

"The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching is a revelation for anyone or any system that wishes to have a powerful and effective coaching program. It is chocked-full of tools and strategies but also provides a critical framework for honoring both student and teacher voice. In addition, the authors are proven practitioners of the work, making the book practical, clear, and steeped in action research. This is a must read!"

Kara Vandas
Corwin Author and Consultant

Other Titles in: Coaching | Instructional Leadership | Principalship

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