Coaching

2025-26

"The best part of the program was our literacy coach. She was awesome. So responsive and knowledgeable. She was flexible and adapted to what we needed in the building, which really shifted some of the teachers' practice."

"Working with an early literacy coach has been transformational for my school. I am so grateful for the work that she has done. She’s incredible and we’ve all learned and benefited so much from her coaching. I wish we could continue working together. The teams that have taken her up on coaching have thrived this year, and we’ve seen a huge increase in our data, especially for our black and native students. The teachers at my school are using the curriculum so much more effectively with this additional training. This hasn’t been an easy year, but it has been a successful one. Thank you for this amazing opportunity."

SoR Coaching Model Overview (doc link here)

The Coaching Cycle for K-3rd grade teachers in literacy is a collaborative process to strengthen literacy instruction through curriculum-specific support. The goal for the Science of Reading Professional Development Program is to complete at least two cycles, focused on our core curricula: Heggerty, Fundations, Wit & Wisdom, Benchmark, and El camino/El próximo paso al éxito. This coaching cycle is designed to foster teacher growth, improve literacy instruction, and enhance student outcomes through flexible, reflective, and targeted learning. Coaching interactions occur during the school day, including classroom observations, PLCs, administrative directed time, and planning sessions for co-planning. Additional interactions are available upon the educator’s request.

The cycle includes the following steps:

1. Initial Coaching Meeting (20 min): Identify the teacher's objectives to ensure collaborative goal-setting aligns with the current module of learning. Review the Coaching Menu and determine next steps. Specify all technical details such as dates, times, lessons, etc., tailored to each curriculum.

2. Coaching Activity (30-60 min): Implementation of selected coaching activity.

3. Debrief & Action Planning (20 min): The coach and teacher debrief the selected coaching activity and determine next steps--potentially another activity from the Coaching Menu.

Coaching Menu

Focused Classroom Visit

The Coach visits the teacher's classroom to observe a specific instructional focus. The Coach collects objective data on the agreed focus area. The Coach and teacher debrief the lesson afterward, creating a plan for next steps.

Focal Student Support

The Coach observes a lesson focusing on students who are Black, Native, MLL, have IEPs, and/or those who begin the year below grade level. Together, the Coach and teacher discuss the observations and plan strategies to improve the student's reading outcomes, creating a plan for next steps.

Co-Planning & Teaching

The Coach and teacher plan or teach together, each taking turns leading parts of the lesson. This collaborative teaching can happen multiple times within a lesson. The Coach and teacher debrief the lesson afterward, creating a plan for next steps.

Lesson Rehearsal

The Coach and teacher role-play an instructional practice or lesson, allowing the teacher to practice techniques before using them in class.

Video Feedback

The Coach records the teacher's lesson to focus on the targeted instructional practice. The coach and teacher then watch and discuss the video in person or via the Reflectivity App, adding reflections and creating a plan for next steps.

Modeling

The Coach demonstrates a lesson or instructional practice, allowing the teacher to see it and understand the reasoning behind each step. The Coach and teacher debrief the lesson afterward, creating a plan for next steps.

Peer Observation

The Coach coordinates with administrators and other coaches to arrange a peer observation. The teacher and the Coach observe a peer’s lesson and debrief afterward

Thought Partner

The Coach provides a confidential, supportive, and non-evaluative space for teachers to brainstorm ideas about curriculum.

Data Analysis

The Coach and teacher analyze student data and/or student work and plan the next steps in instruction.