ERIC Number: EJ1008645
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Feb-21
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1099-839X
EISSN: N/A
Analysis of an Instructional Coach's Role as Elementary School Language Teachers' Professional Developer
Chien, Chin-Wen
Current Issues in Education, v16 n1 Feb 2013
Coaches can provide teachers with quality professional development experiences by mentoring, providing workshops, modeling, or encouraging professional growth (York-Barr & Duke, 2004). This study focuses on the instructional coach's role in the professional development of teachers of English language learners (ELLs). The study has the following findings. First, the coach, acted as a professional developer for teachers of ELLs in the workshop, because she designed and delivered the workshop, mentored teachers, modeled and scaffolded lessons in the lesson-planning process, modeled teaching, and led them to do self-reflection. Second, from the participating teachers' perspective, the instructional coach's knowledge and understanding of academic language made the workshop well-organized. The teachers of ELLs surveyed and interviewed found the instructional coach they worked with to be helpful, organized, and well-informed. Third, less follow-up coaching support and district policy on coaching made the workshop less effective. Two suggestions for coaches to be effective professional developers for language teachers are provided. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: English (Second Language), English Language Learners, Coaching (Performance), Teacher Role, Role Perception, Teacher Workshops, Instructional Leadership, Teacher Surveys, Interviews, Professional Development, Mentors, Teacher Collaboration, Performance Factors, Supervisor Qualifications, Supervisor Supervisee Relationship, Supervisory Methods
Arizona State University, Mary Lou Fulton Institute and Graduate School of Education. Deans Office, P.O. Box 870211 Payne 108, Tempe, AZ 85287. Tel: 480-965-3306; Fax: 480-965-6231; e-mail: cie@asu.edu; Web site: http://cie.asu.edu
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A