1. Coaching From Theory to Practice
Your Team of Presenters:
Linda Castaldo
Gail Fazio
Denise Greco
Yelena Horre
Tracey Lepore
Linden Public Schools, Linden NJ

2. The Game Plan… Introduce the team Define the many roles of a coach
Identify the steps in the coaching process
Identify ways to navigate roadblocks
Describe the parent component
Provide an overview of
professional development
options for teachers

3. Coach’s Play Book Know your team Maintain Professionalism Lead
Facilitate
Support
Maintain Confidence
Build Trust Slowly
Build Knowledge Base
Model life-long learning
Network with others
Willingness to share

4. Coaching the team! Provide professional development
Offer support in the classroom
Create a climate of literacy
Offer support to parents
Encourage individual
professional growth

5. The Coaching Process

6. Sometimes practice isn’t perfect!
Problems on the field…
Teachers are resistant to change
Unclear about the role of the coach
Unsure about their role in process
Time constraints
Variations in commitment to personal
professional growth
Many different levels of
experience/knowledge
Administrative support
Changing staff

7. Parent Component Parent Workshops Family Literacy Events
District Literacy Days
Cooperative Learning Opportunities
Author Visits
Special Incentive Programs

8. Strengthening the Team…
… through professional development
Common planning
Grade level meetings
Study Groups
District-wide
in-service days
One to one with teachers
Outside presenters

9. Based on the work of Colleen Buddy
Reaching Your Goal
Some
principles
to keep
in mind…
Based on the work of Colleen Buddy

10. The Dick & Jane Principle
Look! See!
Take the time to visit the teachers you’re working with so you’ll know HOW to MOVE THEM FORWARD.
Remember- gradual release continuum starts w/ the LEARNER, not you.

11. THE SPICE GIRL PRINCIPLE
Beware of Fads!
Stay grounded in SBRR

12. THE TORTOISE & THE HARE PRINCIPLE
Pacing is an
individual style.
Be sensitive to the needs of the learner. The gradual release continuum is not a straight line. Learning is recursive.

13. Relationships have soul.
THE OPRAH PRINCIPLE
Relationships
have soul.
Rapport is essential when working with adults.
Take time to get to know the teachers you work with. It’s not until a relationship is established that a teacher is willing to take a risk.

14. THE SISTINE CHAPEL PRINCIPLE
Masterpieces
develop over time.
Realize that adult learning takes time.
Often you will not see the benefit of your work in total.

15. THE TOMIE DePAOLA PRINCIPLE
Stamp your
on every page
of your work.
Stay passionate.
Let your individual style shine through.

16. THE GREAT DEBATE PRINCIPLE
Steer clear of “us versus them”.
We all want the same thing- literate children loving to read & doing it well.
Maintain an open mind, be open to another way of accomplishing the same thing.
REMEMBER- we are all in the business of children- How is your business going??
There Is None.

17. Each Of Us Blooms In Our Own Good Time.
LEO THE LATE BLOOMER
Each Of Us Blooms
In Our Own
Good Time.
Some teachers take longer on the gradual release continuum. Keep modeling, offering feedback, & they will bloom in due time.

18. THE MARTHA STEWART PRINCIPLE
Good Things
Count.
Flowers, notes coffee, & candy count.
Simple courtesies make the teachers you work with feel special, understood, and acknowledged.
Don’t forget what it feels like to be in a classroom all day with 25 kindergartners or to be at a loss with what to do with Joey who just can’t seem to learn his alphabet and it’s now May.

19. Observe the interplay of reality & reflection.
THE MONET PRINCIPLE
Observe
the interplay of
reality & reflection.
Through observation & feedback, the teacher is encouraged to reflect upon & consider his/her instruction.
You provide a mirror for them to accomplish this.
Don’t forget to use this principle to improve your own practices.

20. THE DR. SEUSS PRINCIPLE
Have Fun!

21. Coaching is a Challenge!
…but it’s worth it!
Thanks for coming!

22. Coaching is a Challenge!
… but it’s worth it!
Oprah article
The Four Agreements
Post-it-Notes
Professional resource list in your packet.
My business cards – I do outside consulting
Evaluation.
Thanks for coming!

23. Linden All-Star Team: Gail Fazio, Reading Supervisor
Linda Castaldo, Literacy Coach
Denise Greco, Literacy Coach
Yelena Horre, Literacy Coach
Tracey Lepore, Literacy Coach

24. References
Lyons, C. and Pinnell, G. (2001). Systems for change in literacy education. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Puig, E. and Froelich, K. (2007). The literacy coach: Guiding in the right direction. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Robb, L. (2000). Redefining staff development: A collaborative model for teachers and administrators. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Toll, C. (2006). The literacy coach’s desk reference: Processes and
perspectives for effective coaching. Urbana, Illinois: NCTE.
Toll, C. (2005). The literacy’s coach’s survival guide:
Essential questions and practical answers. Newark, DE: IRA.
Walpole, S. and McKenna, M. (2004). The literacy coach’s handbook. New York: The Guilford Press.
Florida Center for Reading Research