Literacy Coaching to Build Adolescent Learning by Guth Nancy DeVries;Pratt-Fartro Tamie; & Tamie Pratt-Fartro

Author:Guth, Nancy DeVries;Pratt-Fartro, Tamie; & Tamie Pratt-Fartro
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1993495
Publisher: Corwin Press
Published: 2010-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Visible and Invisible Support

As you engage in your work each day as a coach, you’ll soon realize that some of what you do is quite obvious to others, and some of what you do remains behind the scenes. Consider this exercise:

Visualize your school building itself. What is your first impression of it? What does it look like from the outside? What color is it? What material is it made out of? Where are the doors, windows, and landscaping located? The answers to those questions are quite easy, right? Now, consider what you don’t see upon the first impression. How are the walls constructed? What type of material is under the roof? Are there nails or screws or bolts securing everything in place? The answers to those questions aren’t so obvious.

We provided this exercise to help you think about the support you provide to colleagues. As a literacy coach, you are often the internal structure or the scaffolding that binds the literacy program within the school. Your job is to provide the foundation for others in order that learning and achievement prosper. Your efforts won’t always be seen, but they’ll always be felt. It’s important to make the distinction not only to yourself, but to others as well. The reality of coaching means that you will encounter resistance from others. Think back to the coaching levels of concentration described in Chapter 3. Teachers will need your support in different ways, and teachers will want your support in different ways. However, in providing that support, you may encounter miscommunication, misunderstanding, and questioning about how you as a coach facilitate student achievement from behind the scenes.

The position of literacy coach is unique, so your ability to communicate what you do is very important to your effectiveness. While your work isn’t always obvious to your colleagues, it does not diminish your contributions to the school. Continuously communicate your efforts, successes, challenges, and goals whenever inquiries are made—not just by supervisors and administrators but by teachers, parents, and students as well. Countless times, Tamie has reminded students that no, she’s not a substitute, and yes, she really does love reading. You, too, are the driving force behind great literacy instruction in the school: be ready and be proud!

Just like a sports coach, you’re often on the sidelines; however, you’re still a valuable team player. Being able to articulate how you impact teacher growth and student achievement is important not only for you as a professional but also in order to move the profession of literacy coaching forward.

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