• What does it mean to be a Literacy Coach?
     
    "At its core, instructional coaching involves two people: the classroom teacher and the coach. Coaches work one-on-one and in small groups with teachers, providing guidance, training, and other resources as needed. Together, they focus on practical strategies for engaging students and improving their learning. Coaches also are often responsible for providing or arranging professional development activities for all teachers in a school or district." - from the Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaching 
    What does a Literacy Coach do?
     
    Literacy coaches can do  many things within a district.  In any given month, you might find me doing all of these:
    • Preparing for and presenting whole or small group professional development during an inservice
    • Working with individual teachers to plan a lesson or unit that engages students and incorporates effective literacy strategies
    • Providing resources to teachers for use in their classrooms
    • Meeting with teachers to discuss strategies or talk about how things are going in their classrooms
    • Attending PLN class with teachers as they learn about more engaging ways to instruct students
    • Participating in Coaching Meetings with other IU8 coaches and our mentor to keep up on the newest researched based classroom practices
     
    What does a Literacy Coach NOT?
     
    A Literacy Coach is not part of a teacher or student evaluation.  It is the job of the coach to support teachers in a variety of ways, but they do not take over the classroom and they do not give input on teacher evaluations.   
     
    Sounds great!  How do I get you in my classroom?
     
    I am available every day from 8:00-8:40 AM and on Mondays and Thursdays from 12:45-1:25 PM.  I can also come in to your classroom to model a lesson or teach with you at another time with some advanced planning for class coverage.
     
    If you want to meet with me to talk about Collins Writing, literacy strategies, or classroom practices to boost student engagement, send me an email and we will set up a time to meet.  You can drop in during the times listed above and also from 11:30-12:00 or 2:15-2:55 each day.  I can come up to the elementary school any day after the high school dismisses at 2:55, also.