2nd Edition
The Mathematics Coaching Handbook Working with K-8 Teachers to Improve Instruction
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.
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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
Biography
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.
"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
