Top Ten Beliefs on Literacy Coaching

1. Top Ten Beliefs on Literacy Coaching Meagan EbersteinKadyMilliagn

2. 10: VIsion • Establish and implement a vision for what literacy should look like in the school. • Understand the goal of implementing literacy coaches in a district should be. • What do you want the district’s literacy program to look like in the end?

3. 9:Define& build a school wide Program • Establish and communicate what the district’s literacy program will look like and how the literacy coaches should be used throughout the year. • Map out a game plan.

4. 8: Administer assessments • Everyone loves to give tests and we know the students love taking them! • Literacy coaches should help give the assessments to free up the teacher’s time so they can continue instruction in the classroom.

5. 7: Summarize • Actually use the data that was provided from the torture…ahem the test you gave to the students. • Literacy coaches should summarize results in a useful and accessible way. Somehow numbers on a graph don’t always cut it for teachers!

6. 6: Set up professional development • Literacy coaches should find useful and meaningful staff development opportunities for teachers. • Who knew teachers could actually benefit from attending a professional development session. • Wait….teachers are professionals?? Doesn’t show in the paychecks!

7. 5: Share Resources • It’s amazing how sometimes materials and professional text just appear. • With the lack of time in a school year we need to play nice and share resources that work. • Practice what you preach. (Share with others!) • Literacy coaches should not force teachers to use their materials and resources, but encourage them to try (a little peer pressure never hurt!)

8. 4: Individualize • I know the state thinks that the teachers and students in the school are robots, but we actually do have pulses, hearts, and different learning styles. • Literacy coaches should introduce a variety of techniques teachers can use in their classroom. They should also be aware of the classroom population and teacher well enough that they have an idea of what would best fit. • Communication is key!

9. 3: Be available • It is important to observe classroom instruction to become more familiar with the classroom population. • Trust and rapport is essential for providing timely feedback. Even though we think we are perfect at times, everyone has room for improvement!

10. 2: Model • No we don’t mean Tyra Banks, literacy coaches need to model instruction! • Modeling can be done in and out of the classroom using teachers as students. • “Don’t tell me, show me!”

11. 1: Passion • Even though you may need a drink after school, be passionate and love what you do! • It is in your hands to teach kids to love to read.