The Mathematics Coaching Handbook: Working with K-8 Teachers to Improve Instruction / Edition 2

by Pia Hansen

Overview

Learn how you can work more effectively with teachers in your role as a math coach or department chair. Coaching can be a rewarding experience both personally and professionally, but it also requires taking risks, being up-to-date on the latest research, implementing best practices, and managing relationships. In this practical book for grades K-8, you’ll gain helpful insight on being an effective mentor, coach, and colleague to your math teachers. You’ll find out how to:

• Develop relationships with your teachers through one-to-one collaboration;
• Establish teacher-teams to meet goals effectively;
• Improve student achievement by implementing best practices for math education;
• Overcome common challenges faced by coaches and teacher-leaders;
• And more!

This updated second edition contains new information on empowering teachers to tackle the key shifts of the Common Core. It also offers updated advice on ways to conduct professional development with teachers such as through online chats and book studies. The book’s appendices offer additional resources for math coaches, including rubrics, conference guides, and tools for classroom observations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138912045
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/19/2015
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Pia M. Hansen has been a classroom teacher for twenty-seven years. Currently, she is the director of Professional Development for the Math Learning Center. She is also co-author of Performance Tasks and Rubrics for Early Elementary Mathematics, Second Edition with Charlotte Danielson.

Table of Contents

1. Preface

   1. Examining the Role of a Math Content Coach

   Defining the "Math Content Coach" Position

   Coaches as Leaders in a Professional Learning Community

   School, Classroom, and Student Factors

   Personal and Professional Qualifications of Math Content Coaches

   Final Thoughts

   2. Preparing Yourself

   Effective Leadership

   Roles, Responsibilities, and Goals

   Setting Goals for The Year

   Scheduling Time

   Communication Strategies .

   Dealing with Conflict

   Final Thoughts

   3. Collaborating with Administrators

   Meeting with the Principal

   Personalities and Possibilities

   Dialogue and Documentation

   Gathering Data to Drive Instructional Practices

   Observing Coaches in Action

   Taking Part in The Practice

   Staying Out of The Middle Position

   Owning Up to Mistakes and Mishaps

   Final Thoughts

   4. One-to-One Collaboration

   Beginning With a Positive Relationship

   A Resource Relationship

   A Modeling Relationship

   A Collaborative Relationship

   Inquiry Continuum

   Planning a Pre-Conference

   Guidelines for Classroom Observations

   Using Observation Forms

   Planning For the Post-Conference

   Getting Started On a One-To-One Collaboration

   Everyone Participates!

   Planning for Coaching Cycles .

   Final Thoughts

   5. Understanding Group Work

   Developing Collaborative Teams

   Creating Agendas

   Running Meetings Effectively

   Working with Other Teacher Leaders

   Dealing with Resistance to Change

   Monitoring Group Work

   Choosing a Fractal Experience

   Final Thoughts

   6. Working with Groups

   Presenting to the Whole Staff

   Using PowerPoints

   Suggestions for Whole Group Collaboration During the Year

   Implementing a New Curriculum

   Planning Professional Development with Outside Consultants

   Working with Small Groups

   Making Time for Small Group Work

   Utilizing Additional Times

   District Curriculum and Assessment Work

   Final Thoughts

   7. Structures for Examining Teacher Practice

   Looking at Student Work

   Using Lesson Study

   Using Action Research

   Examining Cognitive Demand

   Using Video Clips for Staff Development

   Walk-through Observations

   Planning for Peer Observations

   Getting Book Studies Started

   Final Thoughts

   8. Conquering Challenges, Evaluating and Celebrating Success

   The Challenge of Empowering Others

   The Challenge of Using Manipulatives

   The Challenge of Cooperative Group Work

   The Challenge of Working with Difficult Teachers

   When to Facilitate, Coach, or Become the Expert

   Reflection and Advocacy

   Evaluating Effort and Impact

   Seeking Encouragers

   Celebrating Success

   Final Comments

   References

   Appendices

   Appendix 1: The CCSS for Mathematical Practice

   Appendix 2: The Common Core State Standards: Operations and Algebraic Thinking

   Appendix 3: The Common Core State Standards: Number and Operations: Fractions

   Appendix 4: Instructional Strategies

   Appendix 5: Pre-Conference Guide

   Appendix 6: Classroom Look-Fors

   Appendix 7: Classroom Observation Form

   Appendix 8: Post-Conference Guide

   Appendix 9: Log for Working with Staff

   Appendix 10: Staff Development Feedback Form

   Appendix 11: Common Core State Standards Second Grade Curriculum Map

   Appendix 12: Holistic Mathematics Rubric

   Appendix 13: Reflections on Mathematics Teaching and Learning

   Appendix 14: Evaluating Coaching Progress

Editorial Reviews

"The book is so artfully and fluently written that it is a very quick read, with just enough substance in each chapter to give a reader a thorough understanding of the main ideas. This is an excellent resource that should be required reading for all aspiring, beginning, and current math content coaches and the administrators with whom they work." —Elizabeth Simpson, Instructional Math Coach, The Lamphere Schools, Madison Heights, MI

"I am the leader of the math department at my school, which means that I am in charge of almost 20 teachers within the department, so the section on communication strategies was important to me. Without effective communication, departments and schools can fall apart easily. My principal also comes to me often to handle conflict within my department. The section on conflict resolution was helpful in reminding me how to handle such incidents. The Table of Contents also makes it very easy to find a topic and read up on it very quickly. I like how each chapter is broken down the way it is." —Rebecca Thompson, Math Department Chair, Tomahawk Creek Middle School, Midlothian, VA

From the Publisher