This qualitative case study investigated middle grades literacy coaches' perspectives on their efforts to facilitate teacher change and impact classroom practice. Data were collected from three coaches as they worked with a variety of teachers in middle school settings, using field observation and interviews with coaches, teachers, and principals.…

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyse the experiences of student teachers and mentors regarding in-service teacher-training or the "Learning in the Workplace Trajectory" (LIW) in Flemish secondary schools. How is this trajectory perceived by mentors and student teachers, i.e. do their individual expectations and capacities match…

There is growing empirical evidence that instructional coaching can help teachers transfer their learning from professional trainings (e.g., new strategies) to classroom practice and that coaching promotes greater collaboration and reflection among teachers. At the same time, however, research on the effectiveness of particular coaching models and…

This paper examines the impact of two approaches to teacher professional development in arts integration--a summer institute model and a model combining the summer institute with instructional coaching. In an experimental design, the intervention trained third and fourth grade teachers to integrate visual arts and theater into reading curriculum.…

The Early Childhood Educator Survey and the Early Childhood Administrator Survey allow users to collect consistent data on the use of child assessments and learning standards in early childhood learning settings. Each survey includes modules on educator/administrator background information, assessment use, and learning standards implementation.…

The goal of this study is to investigate how students behave themselves in the virtual learning worlds. The study creates a 3D virtual learning world, entitled the Best Digital Village, and implements a learning program on it. The learning program, the Expo, takes place at the Exhibition Center in the Best Digital Village. The space in the Expo is…

This paper describes one approach to quality improvement efforts: the Quality Improvement System (QIS) implemented by Prime Time Palm Beach County (Prime Time) in Palm Beach County, Florida. Prime Time's QIS is recognized as one promising systemic effort to improve quality in the afterschool field (Yohalem, Granger, & Pittman, 2009). As a…

Viewed through a sociocultural lens, this work examines two fourth grade teachers and their newly acquired teaching practices in balanced literacy. With a strong Vygotskian influence and sociocultural perspective, I look at how these practices promote teacher growth and influence student achievement. I argue that method does matter. Therefore,…

Since the No Child Left Behind Act (2001) schools have sought many avenues to improve student achievement. Sandvold (2008) was concerned that ". . . teachers try to do everything themselves, resulting in a hodgepodge of practices, a confused vision, and an impossible schedule. Unless teachers get rid of outdated practices, they will be…

Basic coaching principles such as practicing skills daily, providing feedback, and collaborating are valuable to athlete development. This article will investigate these principles and the scholarship of teaching and learning as a method to examine rehabilitation counseling education. The article concludes with andragogical examples and questions…

This article reports on a 4-year longitudinal study of the effects of Literacy Collaborative (LC), a school-wide reform model that relies primarily on the one-on-one coaching of teachers as a lever for improving student literacy learning. Kindergarten through second-grade students in 17 schools were assessed twice annually with DIBELS and Terra…

In this study of 116 high-poverty schools, we explored teaching and coaching in grades K-3. We developed and validated observation protocols for both coaching and teaching. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were computed to identify and confirm factors that explained the protocol data. Three coaching factors were identified in both…

This case study documented ways that participants in an urban high school collaborated to develop a Connected Coaching approach to literacy learning in the content areas. Analysis of interviews, observations, and archival documents provided detailed descriptions of ways the literacy coach and teachers worked together to integrate content concepts…

Today's school principals face unprecedented challenges. This article proposes a school-based outline framework in which the principal is the primary agent of change aided by an external coach. In this framework, the principal receives coaching and guides the change process at the school through a variety of coaching practices involving the…

Literacy coaching is a current trend meant to broaden instructional repertoires and student engagement. Designed for professional growth through inquiry, collaboration, and experimentation, literacy coaches offer literacy strategies to enliven student interest in all subjects. Literacy coaches meet with teachers one-on-one to discuss current…