Synopses & Reviews
Review
"What a wealth of information is included in this book! It has so many resources, all pulled together in one volume. In addition to literacy coaches, administrators and classroom teachers will also find helpful information. Whether just beginning to initiate school reform and unsure of where to start, in the midst and trying to stay focused, or well on the way to ensuring that lasting changes are made, readers will find what they need in these pages. I will most certainly refer to this volume again and again."--Cece Tillman, MS, Literacy Coach, Davis Elementary School, Trenton, Georgia
"A 'must read' for literacy coaches and administrators, this handbook defines the role of a literacy coach in a schoolwide, research-based reading improvement system. It not only describes what coaches need to know and do, but also provides guidance in how to do it. Valuable insights from practicing literacy coaches are provided, as well as practical suggestions for addressing the obstacles coaches may face in implementing and supporting change. This book has much to offer for use as a text in any degree program in reading, with particular value for graduate-level reading specialist programs."--Marie Mancuso, MEd, Director, Arizona Reading Initiative
"It is with great pleasure and excitement for the reading field that I recommend Walpole and McKennas book. Schools throughout the country are currently hiring coaches as part of their literacy reform efforts, yet relatively little is known about what a literacy coach does, and more importantly, how to be one. This unique book is filled with state-of-the-art research as well as practical and useful information about how to be a literacy coach. There is currently nothing like it in the field. It is an absolute 'must read' for all those involved in literacy reform at the school and district levels. As a text, the book can be used in graduate-level courses related to training reading specialists, and in graduate-level internships in reading and special education. It can also be used directly in the professional development of literacy coaches."--Janice A. Dole, PhD, Department of Teaching and Learning, University of Utah
Review
"Drawing on extensive recent research, this second edition provides an up-to-date look at the components, complexities, and complications of literacy coaching. Walpole and McKenna write in a direct and engaging style. They present relevant, practical information and advice for coaches, teachers, and administrators. The book covers the terrain of coaching with a level of expertise that is seldom seen. A 'must read.'"--D. Ray Reutzel, PhD, Emma Eccles Jones Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Early Literacy, Utah State University
"A tour de force. The authors know elementary classrooms in and out, and they know what literacy coaches should be well informed about and able to do. The second edition provides the latest research on coaching and reading instruction. It is filled with practical ideas that will assist coaches in their daily work in classrooms and schools. This is a great text for reading endorsement/coaching courses and administration courses for elementary principals."--Janice A. Dole, PhD, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah
"This is an indispensable book for any educator involved in school reform surrounding literacy. It contains practical strategies and research for literacy coaches that could also inform the practices of teachers, reading specialists, and administrators. The grouping configurations, assessment systems, and representative schedules are particularly valuable. With its insight into professional development and leadership, the book will be especially useful for graduate students. No other text is as comprehensive and concrete, or has the potential to make such a difference in the lives of elementary students."--Christine McNair, MSEd, English Language Arts Supervisor, Roanoke (Virginia) City Public Schools; Adjunct Instructor, Virginia Western Community College
"Walpole and McKenna have done a fantastic job of revising a book that was a lifesaver for me when I was training literacy coaches. Like the first edition, the second edition is packed with information; the expanded grade range and the rich research updates make it even more useful. This is an essential book for coaches as well as other educators seeking to implement lasting literacy changes to benefit students."--Lisa Albert, EdS, third-grade teacher, Twin Oaks Elementary School, Leesburg, Georgia
"Walpole and McKenna have done it again! The second edition of this comprehensive guide incorporates current research and gives more attention to expectations at the preschool level and the impact of the Common Core State Standards on instruction and learning. The book is reader friendly; it's obvious that Walpole and McKenna have worked closely with literacy coaches in the field. They describe many different tools and resources that literacy coaches can use to do their job more effectively. This text is a valuable resource for those preparing reading specialists and coaches, and is a 'must read' for practicing coaches."--Rita M. Bean, PhD, Professor Emerita, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh
Review
"This book, with its abundance of ideas and suggestions as well as background information, provides valuable insight and guidance for any literacy coach, whether the person is new to the position or is a seasoned coach seeking to further her professional development."--Childhood Education
Synopsis
This comprehensive guide addresses the fundamentals of designing and directing a high-quality elementary reading program. Step by step, the book provides the knowledge needed to ensure that teachers and students benefit from scientifically based reading research. Aided by reproducible figures and many detailed examples, preservice and practicing literacy coaches learn best practices for:
*Analyzing student achievement.
*Selecting new curricula, texts, and resources.
*Providing professional development.
*Assisting individual teachers.
*Engaging the whole school community in supporting positive change.
Synopsis
This comprehensive guide addresses the fundamentals of designing and directing a high-quality elementary reading program. Step by step, the book provides the knowledge needed to ensure that teachers and students benefit from scientifically based reading research. Aided by reproducible figures and many detailed examples, preservice and practicing literacy coaches learn best practices for:
*Analyzing student achievement.
*Selecting new curricula, texts, and resources.
*Providing professional development.
*Assisting individual teachers.
*Engaging the whole school community in supporting positive change.
Synopsis
This bestselling book gives preservice and practicing literacy coaches the tools they need to build a successful schoolwide reading program. The authors, well-known experts in the field, describe the literacy coach's crucial, evolving role in today's schools. They offer step-by-step guidelines for implementing curricula and assessments, selecting instructional materials, and planning for differentiation and intervention. Specific ways to support teachers by providing high-quality professional development are discussed. The book is grounded in state-of-the-art research on PreK-5 instruction and the characteristics of effective coaches.
New to This Edition
*Incorporates the latest research and instructional materials.
*Expanded grade range now includes PreK and grades 4-5.
*Content on RTI and the Common Core standards is woven throughout.
*Strategies for making professional development more responsive to teachers' needs.
See also The Literacy Coaching Challenge, which guides more experienced coaches in choosing among different coaching models and addresses typical issues of implementation.
About the Author
Sharon Walpole, PhD, is Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Delaware. She has extensive school-based experience, including both high school teaching and elementary school administration. Dr. Walpole served as a research assistant and as a research associate at the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA). She has also been involved in federally funded and homegrown schoolwide reform projects and participates in and studies the design and effects of schoolwide reforms, particularly those involving literacy coaches. The coauthor of two books and numerous articles, Dr. Walpoles research interests include classroom- and school-level correlates of student achievement, particularly in schools engaged in improvement efforts.
Michael C. McKenna, PhD, is Thomas G. Jewell Professor of Reading at the University of Virginia. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of 15 books and more than 100 articles, chapters, and technical reports on a range of literacy topics. Dr. McKennas research has been sponsored by the National Reading Research Center and CIERA. He is the cowinner of National Reading Conference's Edward Fry Book Award and the American Library Association's Award for Outstanding Academic Books. He serves on the editorial board of Reading Research Quarterly, and has coedited themed issues of the Peabody Journal of Education and Reading and Writing Quarterly. Dr. McKennas research interests include comprehension in content settings, reading attitudes, technology applications, and beginning reading.
Table of Contents
1. What Is a Literacy Coach?
2. Research on Literacy Coaching
3. What Is a Schoolwide Literacy Program?
4. Finding and Applying Reading Research
5. Reading Assessment
6. Instructional Schedules
7. Instructional Tasks and Procedures
8. Selecting Materials and Programs
9. Schoolwide Response to Intervention
10. Providing Professional Support
11. Leadership