"This book serves as a very useful resource to those who develop, organize, and research staff development for teachers. The authors understand that it is important to describe the models we use as well as to consider their application and improvement in the future. The authors’ call to engage in research about staff development is a very significant challenge to professionals in the field."
—Jim Jutras, Director of Education
Saskatoon Public Schools, Saskatchewan, Canada

With emphasis on the essential connection to student outcomes, this volume provides an in-depth analysis of each approach, plus concrete guidelines for effective implementation and program evaluation. Based on the belief that all models can succeed if properly implemented, Models of Professional Development examines:

• Models to support individuals
• Collaborative personal/professional direct service models such as mentoring and coaching
• Collaborative and cooperative models
• Models designed to achieve curricular and instructional change
• The traditional workshop model and how it can be improved

"Teachers helping teachers is a great way to create a powerful instructional staff. Knight has included very practical and useful tools to help teachers achieve excellence."
—Dale E. Moxley, Principal, Round Lake Elementary School, Mount Dora, FL

Instructional coaching, a research-based, job-embedded approach to instructional intervention, provides the assistance and encouragement necessary to implement new programs that improve student learning. The product of more than eight years of study, this approach to professional development has been proven to help schools respond to the pressures of accountability and reform.

Experienced trainer, developer, and researcher Jim Knight describes the "nuts and bolts" of instructional coaching and explains the essential skills that instructional coaches need, including getting teachers on board, providing model lessons, observing teachers, and engaging in reflective conversations. Each user-friendly chapter of Instructional Coaching includes:

• First-person stories from successful coaches
• Sidebars highlighting important information
• A "Going Deeper" section of suggested resources
• Forms, worksheets, checklists, logs, reports, and other ready-to-use tools
• A short summary of the main chapter points

This book is perfect for coaches, aspiring coaches, as well as the staff developers, trainers, teacher leaders, principals, and other educators who work with coaches and oversee coaching programs.

Contains Book, Facilitator's Guide, DVD, Video (VHS)

Designed to complement Jim Knight's best-selling book Instructional Coaching, this comprehensive multimedia presentation provides staff developers with the necessary materials to demonstrate the principles of a partnership approach for coaching teachers to improve classroom instruction. Facilitators will be able to show aspiring and experienced coaches how to get teachers on board, observe teachers, provide model lessons, and engage in reflective conversations. Workshops include group discussions about:

• Incorporating the essential components of coaching
• Fostering positive communication between coaches and teachers
• Understanding the relationship between effective teaching and behavior, content knowledge, direct instruction, and formative assessment

"A must-read for any administrator who employs coaches on their campus and for anyone who acts as a coach, teacher leader, facilitator, or mentor."
—Candace Bixler, Educational Specialist
Education Service Center, Region XIII, Austin, TX

Coaching supports teacher development and puts teachers' needs at the heart of professional learning by individualizing their learning and by positioning them as professionals. With many different models available, administrators may find it challenging to determine the kind of coaching that best fits the needs of schools, teachers, and students. This fresh new resource brings together the voices of recognized experts in the field—including Joellen Killion, Cathy Toll, Jane Ellison, Randy Sprick, Jane Kise, Karla Reiss, Lucy West, and Jim Knight—to present unique approaches for coaching teachers and leaders. Comprehensive chapters review the roles of coaches in schools, examine the research base on coaching, and provide in-depth discussions of specific approaches to coaching.