E FFECTIVE CURRICULUM COACHING Meredith Dunn Principal, Northern Elementary Melody Gallenstein Curriculum Coach, Northern Elementary September 2010

O UR BACKGROUND Northern Elementary Lexington, Kentucky 500 students 40% Caucasion, 40% African American, 20% Hispanic 85% Free/Reduced Lunch 10-15% Special Education (not including speech only) 3-4 classrooms at each level 4 th and 5 th grade – departmentalized CATS Index – 101 Based on Data – No Achievement Gaps Leadership Staff: 1 Principal, 1 PSA, 1 Curriculum Coach

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Role will look different depending on the needs of the students and staff in your building. There is not an absolute right way to approach the coaching position but there are some ways to maximize the role. Probably the trickiest position in the school to navigate. Can be called Instructional, Academic, etc

P URPOSE Ultimately, you want a Coach that can: Influence school culture positively Increase and encourage professional learning Raise student achievement Build capacity

T HE R OLE Curriculum Coach The job of a Curriculum Coach is to raise the quality of the teaching and learning in every classroom in the school by building a culture in which: Teaching is public and itself the focus of study among professionals Planning for instruction is thorough and collaborative and digs deeply into the content Conversation and questions about improving student results among teachers are constant, evidence-based, and non-defensive.

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? A Curriculum Coach wears many hats during any given day. The following 10 roles break down how a Coach might impact a school. 1. Resource Provider Websites Instructional materials Readings Professional resources Lesson/unit plans Assessments

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Instructional Specialist Helps implement effective teaching strategies Differentiating instruction Planning lessons Explore instructional strategies appropriate for the school Design assessments Highlight best practices in the classroom and in the profession

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Curriculum Specialist Understanding content standards Linking curriculum together Long range planning Ensure consistent curriculum implementation throughout the school Lead teachers to agree on standards Use common pacing charts Develop common assessment

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Classroom Supporter Help teachers implement new ideas Modeling lessons Coteaching Observing and giving feedback Enhance teachers self efficacy – believe in their own abilities and capacity to solve teaching and learning problems Encourage reflection

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Learning Facilitator Facilitate professional learning opportunities among staff members Help to create a community of learning Facilitate Grade Level Meetings and Committees Foster and environment where staff members regularly consult and ask each other for help. Meet in regular groups to discuss how to improve instruction of specific concepts and skills

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Mentor For novice teachers Acclimate new teachers to a new school Advise new teachers about instruction, curriculum, procedure, practices, and politics

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? School Leader Serving on a committee School improvement team Represent the school on district task forces Shares the vision of the school Aligns goals with that of the district and school Shares responsibility for the success of the school Possible Site Based Council Member

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Data Coach Lead conversations that engage teachers in analyzing data to drive classroom instruction Disaggregate data Help plan instruction based on data Give feedback on structures that work and those that need to be revised Help staff members use daily and weekly formative data about student learning to design reteaching and focus instruction on student needs.

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Catalyst for Change Never content with the status quo Always looking for a better way Coaches who take a catalyst role feel secure in their own work and have a strong commitment to continual improvement. Pose questions to generate analysis of student learning Can lead to sustainable improvement across the school and district

W HAT IS A CURRICULUM COACH ANYWAY ? Learner Model continual improvement Demonstrate lifelong learning Use what they learn to help all students achieve

S PECIAL INGREDIENT Building Relationships Success of a Curriculum Coach depends very much on the personality of the person filling the role. Must be approachable. Teachers MUST trust this person. There cannot be a hidden agenda that the Coach tries to follow. The agenda is student achievement. The Coach is not a teacher but is not technically an administrator either. Principal/Coach Relationship

W HAT TO LOOK FOR IN HIRING A coach should emphasize these values: Inquiry Deep collaboration Collective responsibility for student learning Teacher as decision maker Curriculum as a tool for good instruction; not as a prescription for instruction Continual adult learning Adult norms of dialogue and debate at the same time as sharing and mutual support

R EFERENCES Saphier, J. & West, L. How Coaches Can Maximize Student Learning. Kappan December 2009/January 2010, pg Harrison, D. & Killion, J. Ten Roles for Teacher Leaders. September 2007, Educational Leadership, Volume 65, Number 1, pg

INFORMATION Meredith Dunn Principal, Northern Elementary Melody Gallenstein Curriculum Coach, Northern Elementary