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Literacy Coaching to Build Adolescent Learning

5 Pillars of Practice

By: Nancy DeVries Guth, Tamie Pratt-Fartro

Work with teachers to improve adolescents' literacy achievement!

Designed for secondary-level coaches, this accessible resource focuses on five pillars of adolescent literacy: time to read for enjoyment, choice in reading materials, strategies for reading texts, vocabulary instruction, and motivation to read. The book shows coaches how to work effectively with teachers across content areas and offers real-world vignettes, current research, and reproducible forms, and includes guidance on:

Clearly defining the role of literacy coaches
Using conversation wisely for decision-making and identifying design needs
Implementing ongoing professional development for teachers
Establishing collaborative relationships and helping teachers use data to inform instruction

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Product Details

Grade Level: 6-12
ISBN: 9781412972260
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2009
Page Count: 136
Publication date: November 24, 2009

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Description

"This book has been long-awaited by literacy professionals in middle and high schools. Guth and Pratt-Fartro use their combined years of experience to provide research-based yet very practical guidance in a highly readable format."
—Elizabeth Sturtevant, Professor
George Mason University

"This is a practical, clear book that addresses an increasingly important topic and will make a significant contribution to a new emphasis in our profession."
—Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Professor of English Education
Director of Boise State Writing Project

Work with teachers to improve adolescents' literacy achievement!

Prompted by state and federal mandates, school districts are focusing their attention on improving adolescents' literacy skills and increasingly turning to literacy coaches for instructional support. This rare resource for secondary-level coaches focuses on five pillars of adolescent literacy: time to read for enjoyment, choice in reading materials, strategies for reading texts, vocabulary instruction, and motivation to read—and shows coaches how to work effectively with middle and high school teachers across the content areas.

Drawing on their deep experience in the field, the authors provide guidance on such key topics as how to:

Clearly define the role and responsibilities of literacy coaches
Use conversation wisely to make effective decisions and identify design needs
Implement ongoing professional development for teachers
Establish collaborative relationships and help teachers use data to inform instruction

Replete with real-world vignettes, current research, and reproducible forms to help facilitate literacy coaching in schools, this accessible resource is an invaluable aid for any literacy leader working with teachers of adolescents.

Key features

This book offers:

Practical guides in the form of charts, such as Decision-Making Guide and What a Coach IS and Is NOT
Reproducible templates for coaches that capture information on the current research in adolescent literacy as it applies to the coach's role
Vignettes that illustrate various aspects of workiing with teachers and administrators

Author(s)

Nancy DeVries Guth

Nancy DeVries Guth is the supervisor of literacy and humanities for Stafford County Public schools, Virginia, where she supports the literacy programs for close to 30,000 students. She worked as a reading specialist at the elementary, middle, and secondary level and as a resource teacher for literacy programs in Virginia, New Mexico, Michigan, and Brazil. Guth graduated with her PhD from George Mason University and earned her master's in education from the University of New Mexico.

Tamie Pratt-Fartro

Tamie Pratt-Fartro is a middle school reading specialist and literacy coach for Stafford County Public Schools. She began her teaching career in Stafford as a fifth-grade teacher and also worked as an elementary reading specialist. Pratt-Fartro earned her master's in education from Virginia Tech and is currently a doctoral candidate and adjunct instructor at George Mason University. Her research interests include adolescent literacy, literacy leadership, coaching, and education policy.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Part I. Learning From the Past: Vision for the Future

1. Historical Foundation: Literacy Coaches and Adolescent Literacy

2. Essential Knowledge for the Adolescent Literacy Coach: Design a Solid Building

Part II. Getting Started: Building on the Foundation

3. Read the Blueprints: Understand the Job

4. Plan the Design: Engage in Data-Driven Instructional Conversations

5. Provide Literacy Support

6. Revisit the Design: Feedback and Follow-Up

Part III. Interior Decorating: Supporting the Pillars With Time Management and Professional Learning

7. Maintain the Design Through Time Management

8. Strengthen the Pillars of Classroom Practice

References

Index

Reviews

"This book has been long-awaited by literacy professionals in middle and high schools. While more and more schools are seeing the value of hiring secondary literacy coaches, very few resources are available to guide new coaches or help school leaders support a coaching model. In this book, Guth and Pratt-Fartro use their combined years of experience to provide research-based yet very practical guidance in a highly readable format."

Elizabeth Sturtevant, Professor
George Mason University

Other Titles in: Coaching | English/Language Arts (Middle/High School)

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Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.