Literacy Leadership through Coaching: Building Teacher Capacity, PK-12

EDU H810H Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Literacy coaching is an integral part of leading teachers to implement effective instructional practices for learners across age/grade levels. At the preschool level, coaches model effective teacher moves and implementation of curricula that result in positive early literacy learning. At the elementary level literacy coaches collaborate with teachers to differentiate literacy instruction to meet the strengths and challenges of their learners. At the secondary level, literacy coaches foster an appreciation of the literacy demands in the disciplines and provide teachers with the skills to help their learners access their content. Literacy coaching also has been effectively implemented in low/middle income countries (the Global South) to provide pedagogical and content knowledge for early grade and elementary teachers, building human capital.

This module provides participants with an overview of literacy coaching across grade levels (K-12) and school contexts. Research, theory, and practice addressed in the module will focus on the intersection of the following fields: transformational change, culturally sustaining pedagogy, adult development, professional learning, and school improvement. In a workshop format, participants will address the module's overarching questions: What does literacy coaching look like across grade levels, coaching models, and school contexts? Which coaching practices do teachers, coaches, and researchers find effective? How does coaching facilitate school improvement efforts? The module's weekly activities and final assignment have been specifically designed to allow those interested in literacy education, professional learning, and school improvement to pursue their academic interests as related to current literacy coaching research and practice. This module is appropriate for master's and doctoral students wanting to learn more about the theory and practices enacted in coaching models to strengthen teachers' literacy instruction (K-12).
Teaching experience is recommended but not required.