Student-Centered Coaching: A Guide for K–8 Coaches and Principals

This practical resource is grounded in a simple but powerful premise: that school-based coaching programmes can be designed in a way that more directly impacts student achievement. In a student-centered coaching relationship, the focus is on using data and student work to drive conversations between coaches and teachers to make informed decisions about instruction. In other words, coaches and teachers work collaboratively to support students. The book also underscores the critical role of the headteacher in developing systems and structures to support teacher learning and fostering a culture of learning. The book is suitable for use with both new and experienced coaches and the headteachers who support them.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Section I: Establishing Student-Centered Coaching 1. The Next Generation of Coaching… Coaching Student Learning What is Student-Centered Coaching? The Connection Between Goals for Student Learning and Teaching Practice Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques A Final Thought 2. Getting Student-Centered Coaching Up and Running Coaching in the First Few Weeks of School Coaching Cycles Building a Schedule that Impacts Students and Teachers Developing Relationships with All Teachers Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques A Final Thought 3. Crafting a Culture of Learning Designing a Learning Culture Four Studies in Culture Cultural Rites of Passage The Role of Relationships Qualities of a School with a Culture of Learning Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques A Final Thought Section II: Data as an Essential Component of Student-Centered Coaching 4. Data and Student-Centered Coaching Why Use Data? Coaching in Data-Driven Schools A Case Study in Using Data: Denver School of Science and Technology Coaching with Student Data Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques A Final Thought 5. Measuring the Impact of Student-Centered Coaching A Model for Evaluating Coaching Creating Assessment Checklists and Rubrics Evaluating the Impact of Coaching Small Groups of Teachers Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques Final Thoughts Section III: Practices for Student-Centered Coaching 6. Student-Centered Classroom Observations Three Generations of Learning Labs Which Type of Lab is Right for You? Coaching and Learning Labs Informal Observations that Make an Impact Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques A Final Thought 7. Developing Systems and Structures for Teacher Learning A Student-Centered Framework for Professional Development Coaching as an Essential Element of Professional Development A Case Study in Student-Centered Professional Development: Goldrick Elementary The Important Role of Teacher Leaders What About the "Tougher" Teachers? Teacher Evaluation Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques A Final Thought 8. Engaging the Adult Learner Risk, Relationship, and Coaching Coaching Across Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques A Final Thought 9. Developing Systems and Structures to Support Coaches A Curriculum for Supporting New Coaches Coaching Labs Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office Tools and Techniques A Final Thought Resources References Index

About the Author :
Diane Sweeney is the author of The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching (Corwin, 2020), Leading Student-Centered Coaching (Corwin, 2018), and Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves (Corwin, 2016). Each of these books is grounded in the simple but powerful premise that coaching can be designed to more directly impact student learning. Diane spends her time speaking and consulting for schools and educational organizations across the country. She is also an instructor for the University of Wisconsin, Madison. When she isn’t working in schools, she loves to spend time outside with her family in Denver, Colorado. 

Review :
"Student-Centered Coaching will change the conversation about coaching in this country. Sweeney shows us how vital it is to focus our coaching efforts on the ultimate beneficiary-the student." -- Ellin Oliver Keene, Author and Consultant "This is a timely and important piece in the coaching world. The only way we will help schools reach meaningful change is to focus on students rather than teachers." -- Jennifer Thoma, Instructional Coach "This book is a must have for new instructional coaches. I wish I had it at the beginning of my first year!" -- Kevin Schlomer, Instructional Coach "The breadth and depth of the author's knowledge led me to want to dig deeper and improve my coaching skills, and to advocate for student-centered coaching districtwide." -- Mary L. Morris, Instructional Coach for Math & Science "Sweeney's stories of coaching and the useful materials, tips, and protocols bring student-centered coaching alive. This book has the power to revolutionize the ways coaching is conceptualized and enacted in K-12 schools nationwide." -- Nancy Fichtman Dana, Professor of Education "Diane has taken a commitment to instructional leadership and turned it into practical models and applications. She combines her thorough grounding in the research with experience and a brass-tacks orientation toward helping teachers, coaches, and administrators improve." -- Rob Stein, Principal "An excellent resource that should be on the bookshelf of every principal and instructional coach." -- Roberto Pamas, Principal "At last, a book that helps coaches, principals, and teachers focus on what matters most: concrete evidence of student learning. In her "keep it simple" tone, the author guides educators through improving their assessment, instructional, and planning processes." -- Samantha Bennett, Instructional Coach, Author of "That Workshop Book: New Systems and Structures for Classrooms that Read, Write, and Think"