Literacy Coaching

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With the increasing focus on reading achievement and development in schools today, many districts are looking to literacy coaching for support in enhancing classroom teaching. According to Robinson, McKenna, & Conradi (2012), this method provides support for classroom teachers by preparing them for the challenges of effective reading instruction (p. 218). A literacy coaches primary function is to facilitate professional development “by doing whatever it takes to support a teacher’s growth within his or her own classroom and school” (Robinson, McKenna, and Conradi, 2012, p. 221). A literacy coach must provide expertise for teachers to help enhance effective instruction in the classroom. One way I believe coaches can make this happen is by …show more content…
As stated by Robinson, McKenna, and Conradi (2012), … “By far the worst approach to professional development begins with a presentation by a consultant or some other expert and ends with teachers being left to their own devices as to how the ideas presented will be implemented in their classrooms” (p. 218). When teachers are receiving coaching on professional development in relation to literacy, it is important that it is effective so that students will have better success with reading and writing skills. According to the reading, there have been several approaches identified in the lack of professional development by literacy coaches. The following are referred to as “drive-by” and “the seagull” approaches, both show coaches having minimal interaction with the classroom teacher. Robinson, McKenna, and Conradi (2012), identified “the seagull approach" as “….an expert flies in, drops his load, and flies out again. Such derogatory characterizations capture a long history of dismal research” (p. 218). The following issues conducted by literacy coaches have shown a negative impact on the impact of professional development with literacy coaching. When teachers aren’t provided with the necessary expertise, and coaching strategies, student’s reading and writing success are …show more content…
The need for literacy, reading, and instructional coaches reached an all time high when the demand began to spread across the nation (Robinson, McKenna, & Conradi, 2012, p. 227). Data has shown over time the many changes in perspectives and approaches. Developing long ago, “One early form of coaching is called collaborative consultation” (Robinson, McKenna, & Conradi, 2012, p. 221). This approach has a long history in the special education community and provides support for both individual and whole group needs (Friend, 1988). It was proposed as a role for reading specialists (Jaeger, 1996), giving that they spend half their day working with children, and the other half with adults who are seeking support. Classroom teachers identify goals and then create a planned system for collaborative consultation. After this, the specialist sets time aside to provide the service to the child. The coach and classroom teacher are actively working together to support the Childs literacy growth. This approach was one of the first to come from literacy coaching. It has proven that over time, the development and effectiveness of collaboration has only grown. Teachers are consistently working with their grade levels, coming together and sharing strategies to help better support their student’s growth in