Literacy Coaching Resources Learning through Collaboration

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements to become a literacy coach?

Earn a degree in education. Most literacy coaches are teachers who already have a degree in some area of education. Some graduate programs lead to a master's degree in literacy coaching, but most school districts will hire teachers who have a reading specialist degree. Some districts may require that job applicants earn a minimum number of hours of additional coursework in literacy education.

Teach in the classroom for at least three years. Most reading coaches have substantial classroom experience. To be an effective coach, it is essential to understand the daily routine of reading instruction. It is also helpful if the literacy coach has taught the reading program that is currently being implemented in the school. Familiarity with the core program will help the coach transition into this position with more understanding of teachers' expectations and responsibilities. Having classroom experience also helps literacy coaches be sympathetic to teachers because they understand the daily challenges teachers encounter and the hard work it takes to be effective.

Apply for positions in your school or district. Start with open positions. If there are none, write a letter to the principal and district supervisor stating your interest in becoming a literacy coach when a position becomes available. Continue to teach, but devote much of your spare time to learning about the responsibilities of a literacy coach, using sources such as Reading.org.

What is a literacy coach?

A literacy coach is someone who assists teachers in overcoming problems with teaching strategies of reading. Coaches also help with combining literacy instruction with content area curriculum requirements, which helps teachers work through ways to meet objectives in a manner consistent with their own teaching styles. It takes a lot of collaborations to successfully coach another teacher.

Do all public schools have a literacy coach?

No, not all schools have the privilege of having a literacy coach. However, many schools use various types of funding to have a literacy coach. Typically, it is up to the school?s administration whether or not they need to hire a literacy coach.

Who benefits from literacy coach?

Literacy coaches provide practical strategies all teachers can use. Evidence shows that one-shot, workshop oriented professional development does not result in changes to classroom practice or student learning. Literacy coaches provide job-embedded professional development and follow-up which is often lacking in ?one size fits all? professional development.

Is literacy coaching just a new fad?

Schools have been implementing coaching models for over 35 years. Under the

No Child Left Behind Act the Federal government, in conjunction with state governments, funded reading initiatives designed to impact students K-12 grade. Our program is an expansion of the first initiatives with a focus on the needs of high school students.

Does the role of the coach include supervision and evaluation responsibilities?

Supervision and evaluation of teachers will not be part of the BGHS literacy coach program. Our mission is to support teachers in their planning and classroom instruction.

How does a literacy coach compare to a reading specialist?A Reading specialist usually works with students teaching reading. A coach works with teachers in the areas of instructional design and delivery.

What will the literacy coach do all day?

- A coach will co-teach the PSAT/PLAN and ACT/SAT prep class during zero period

- Meet with teachers: observation, lesson planning, co-teaching, model teaching

- Develop and provide materials designed specifically for core content teachers

- Provide assistance implementing new teaching strategies

- Provide assistance implementing new technology into the classroom

For more information visit:

http://bghsdb.net/depts/Literacy/JobDescription.pdf