1. Colleen Kiley and Alicia Sims CURR 511: Methods and Materials of Elementary Reading Our Top Ten Coaching Beliefs

2. Define Your Role 10 Current coaches are experiencing difficulty defining his or her role within the school district. It is important for the administration and coach to decide on the job description carefully before instruction begins. This will help create a learning environment in which all parties understand what is expected.

3. Be A Mentor 9 Literacy coaches need to be mentors for the school district. Mentors provide professional development and hands-on support in the classroom. Mentors are the teachers’ teacher.

4. Build A Trusting Relationship 8 It is of upmost importance to develop a good relationship with teachers and administration in order to work closely with one another and maintain a lasting partnership. Respect and recognize differences in teachers’ personalities, needs, interests, etc.

5. Observe The Instruction Coaches and teachers need to take on an observational role. This gives coaches the opportunity to assess where help is needed. It also allows teachers to self reflect on his or her own strategies and make improvements. 7

6. Be Flexible Literacy coaches need to be aware and sensitive of each teacher’s personality and beliefs. They need to be prepared with a variety of strategies and modifications. This gives the teachers the opportunity to find the best fit for his or her teaching style. 6

7. Model Instruction It is the coach’s responsibility to provide effective modeling in the classroom for the teacher and students. Modeling enables the teacher to observe new and different strategies to help their students. Modeling gives the literacy coach the opportunity to work directly with the students and teachers in order to better assess where help is needed. It also allows the coach to suggest strategies without coming off as an “expert”. 5

8. Encourage Teachers To Take Risks Literacy coaches should encourage teachers to try new strategies and take on a “trial and error” approach to teaching. Coaches should help teachers embrace these new techniques by supporting them in and out of the classroom. 4

9. Self-Reflect On Practices When dealing with literacy coaching there are multiple levels of self- reflection. On one level the literacy coach needs to reflect on his or her own techniques used when meeting, observing, modeling, or teaching. On another level, it is the responsibility of a literacy coach to help teachers self- reflect on his or her classroom instruction. Lastly, teachers and coaches both need to help students reflect on their own work, which allows children to develop more in-depth thinking skills. 3

10. Provide Professional Resources It is important for literacy coaches to provide current, professional research and materials for teachers and administrators to use. These resources will help staff to develop more enriched instruction. It allows teachers to familiarize themselves with new teaching practices. 2

11. Be A Continuous Learner Being a continuous learner means using all of the previous beliefs to grow as an educator. As a literacy coach is it important to always attend professional development and be up-to- date on current research. A literacy coach must be open to change and have a willingness to adapt. 1

12. Resources Bean, R.M. & DeFord, D. (2007). Do’s and Don’t’s for Literacy Coaches: Advice from the Field. (A brief written for Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse). https://www.literacycoachingonline.org Walpole S., Blamey K. L. (2008). Elementary literacy coaches: The reality of dual roles. The Reading Teacher, 62(3), 222-231. Shanklin, N.L. (2006). What are the characteristics of effective literacy coaching? (A brief written for Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse). https://www.literacycoachingonline.org. Shanklin, N.L. (2007). What supports do literacy coaches need from administrators in order to succeed? (A brief written for Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse). https://www.literacycoachingonline.org. Vanderburg, M., Stephens, D. (2009). What Teachers Say They Changed Because of Their Coach and How They Think Their Coach Helped Them. (A brief written for Literacy Coaching Clearinghouse). https://www.literacycoachingonline.org.