Student-Centered Coaching
A Guide for K–8 Coaches and Principals
- Diane Sweeney - Diane Sweeney Consulting, Denver, CO
"Student-Centered Coaching will change the conversation about coaching in this country. Sweeney shows us how vital it is to focus our coaching efforts on the ultimate beneficiary—the student."
—Ellin Oliver Keene, Author and Consultant
"An excellent resource that should be on the bookshelf of every principal and instructional coach."
—Roberto Pamas, Principal
O.W. Holmes Middle School, Alexandria, VA
Improve student outcomes with data-driven coaching
Student-Centered Coaching is grounded in a simple but powerful premise: school-based coaching can be designed to directly impact student learning. When the focus is shifted from "fixing" teachers to collaborating with them in designing instruction that targets student achievement, coaching becomes both more respectful and results-based. The book also underscores the critical role of the principal in developing systems and structures for supporting teacher development and fostering a culture of learning. Each chapter includes:
- A model for designing and implementing student-centered coaching
- Data-driven coaching tools and techniques focused on student learning
- A framework for measuring the coaching's impact
- Specific practices for leading a student-centered coaching effort
Also included are exercises designed to promote coach and principal collaboration, giving them essential tools for enhancing student achievement.
| What is Student-Centered Coaching? |
| The Connection Between Goals for Student Learning and Teaching Practice |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| A Final Thought |
| Coaching in the First Few Weeks of School |
| Coaching Cycles |
| Building a Schedule that Impacts Students and Teachers |
| Developing Relationships with All Teachers |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| A Final Thought |
| Designing a Learning Culture |
| Four Studies in Culture |
| Cultural Rites of Passage |
| The Role of Relationships |
| Qualities of a School with a Culture of Learning |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| A Final Thought |
| Why Use Data? |
| Coaching in Data-Driven Schools |
| A Case Study in Using Data: Denver School of Science and Technology |
| Coaching with Student Data |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| A Final Thought |
| A Model for Evaluating Coaching |
| Creating Assessment Checklists and Rubrics |
| Evaluating the Impact of Coaching Small Groups of Teachers |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| Final Thoughts |
| Three Generations of Learning Labs |
| Which Type of Lab is Right for You? |
| Coaching and Learning Labs |
| Informal Observations that Make an Impact |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| A Final Thought |
| A Student-Centered Framework for Professional Development |
| Coaching as an Essential Element of Professional Development |
| A Case Study in Student-Centered Professional Development: Goldrick Elementary |
| The Important Role of Teacher Leaders |
| What About the "Tougher" Teachers? |
| Teacher Evaluation |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| A Final Thought |
| Risk, Relationship, and Coaching |
| Coaching Across |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| A Final Thought |
| A Curriculum for Supporting New Coaches |
| Coaching Labs |
| Meanwhile... in the Principal's Office |
| Tools and Techniques |
| A Final Thought |
"Student-Centered Coaching will change the conversation about coaching in this country. Sweeney shows us how vital it is to focus our coaching efforts on the ultimate beneficiary—the student."
"This is a timely and important piece in the coaching world. The only way we will help schools reach meaningful change is to focus on students rather than teachers."
"This book is a must have for new instructional coaches. I wish I had it at the beginning of my first year!"
"The breadth and depth of the author's knowledge led me to want to dig deeper and improve my coaching skills, and to advocate for student-centered coaching districtwide."
"Sweeney’s stories of coaching and the useful materials, tips, and protocols bring student-centered coaching alive. This book has the power to revolutionize the ways coaching is conceptualized and enacted in K–12 schools nationwide."
"Diane has taken a commitment to instructional leadership and turned it into practical models and applications. She combines her thorough grounding in the research with experience and a brass-tacks orientation toward helping teachers, coaches, and administrators improve."
"An excellent resource that should be on the bookshelf of every principal and instructional coach."
"At last, a book that helps coaches, principals, and teachers focus on what matters most: concrete evidence of student learning. In her "keep it simple" tone, the author guides educators through improving their assessment, instructional, and planning processes."
HEOA Compliance
Available formats
| ISBN: 9781544303079 | Electronic Version | Suggested Retail Price: $38.95 | Bookstore Price: $31.16 |
| ISBN: 9781412980432 | Paperback | Suggested Retail Price: $38.95 | Bookstore Price: $31.16 |
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