The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching: What Every K-12 Coach and School Leader Needs to Know

by Diane Sweeney, Leanna S. Harris

Overview

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

Student-Centered Coaching is an evidence-based model of professional learning that focuses on student outcomes. Grounded in the latest research and over ten years of field experience, The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching introduces the philosophy and core practices for Student-Centered Coaching. Designed to accompany other books on Student-Centered Coaching, the authors provide a clear vision for how coaching can promote both teacher and student learning.

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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781544375359
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	05/14/2020
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

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 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

Editorial 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

"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