The Art and Science of Teacher Coaching

What It Is, What It’s Not, and How to Do It
Douglas Fisher - San Diego State University, USA
Nancy Frey - San Diego State University, USA
John T. Almarode - James Madison University, USA
Toni Osborn Faddis - San Diego State University, USA
The Art and Science of Teacher Coaching
April 2026 | 232 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9798348857875
Available from January 0001

Description

Elevate your coaching practice and make a meaningful impact

Instructional coaching holds immense potential to support teachers, elevate practice, and improve student outcomes. However, coaches are often left to figure things out on their own, and the impact of coaching can be limited without a clear, research-based approach. The Art and Science of Teacher Coaching is a practical and reflective guide that centers on collaboration, trust, and student-focused growth. Blending research-based insights with vivid illustrations and adaptable strategies, this book empowers coaches and leaders to foster meaningful dialogue, deepen professional learning, and elevate teaching practice.

This accessible primer is an entryway to high-impact coaching practices. It provides a comprehensive look at the history and goals of coaching, how to build credibility, and the core skills that matter most. You will learn to:

  • Build rapport and trust, ground conversations in evidence, guide reflective dialogue, and provide actionable next steps
  • Integrate various coaching structures, including micro-coaching, short-cycle, and full-cycle coaching, to meet diverse needs
  • Expand your practice from individual support to effective team coaching, fostering collective efficacy and aligning growth with school-wide goals

With strategies, self-assessments, sample prompts, and other practical resources, this illustrated guide will help you strengthen your impact and unlock the full potential of coaching as a force for authentic growth.

Contents

Dear Reader

Dear Reader

About the Authors

About the Authors

About the Illustrator

About the Illustrator

Section 1: Where Coaching Begins

  • The History of Academic Coaching in Schools
  • A History of Limited Impact
  • Definitions of Coaching
  • Differing Roles in Coaching

Section 2: The Goals of Coaching

  • The Goals of Coaching: Building Expertise, Not Just Performance
  • Skills and Performance Improvement Require Deliberate Practice
  • Cues, Prompts, and Retrieval: Scaffolds for Learning and Performance

Section 3: Credibility in Coaching

  • Why Credibility?
  • Trustworthiness in Coaching
  • Competence in Coaching
  • Dynamism in Coaching
  • Immediacy in Coaching

Section 4: Coaching Skills

  • Validating and Expanding Coaching Skills
  • Connect ? Establish Rapport and Trust
  • Ground ? Use Evidence With Clarity and Neutrality
  • Engage ? Guide Thinking Through Conversation
  • Advance ? Provide Actionable Next Steps

Section 5: Coaching Models

  • Cycles of Coaching
  • Micro-Coaching
  • Short-Cycle Coaching
  • The COACH Framework: A Research-Based Guide for Short-Cycle Coaching Conversations
  • Full-Cycle Coaching
  • The Core Components of Full-Cycle Coaching
  • Annual Coaching Foundations Meeting
  • The Pre-observation Phase: Establishing Purpose and Clarity
  • The Observation Phase: Gathering Descriptive, Nonevaluative Evidence
  • Post-observation Conversation: Reflection, Analysis, and Refinement
  • Extending the Cycle: Analysis, Refinement, and Sustainability

Section 6: Coaching as a Team Sport

  • From Individual to Team Coaching
  • Designing Effective Structures for Team Coaching
  • Navigating Team Dynamics
  • Balancing Individual Growth With Collective Goals
  • Leveraging Feedback and Evidence for Teams
  • Aligning Team Coaching Within the System

Conclusion: Coaching as the Art and Science of Shared Growth

Conclusion: Coaching as the Art and Science of Shared Growth

References

References

Index

Index

Description

Elevate your coaching practice and make a meaningful impact

Instructional coaching holds immense potential to support teachers, elevate practice, and improve student outcomes. However, coaches are often left to figure things out on their own, and the impact of coaching can be limited without a clear, research-based approach. The Art and Science of Teacher Coaching is a practical and reflective guide that centers on collaboration, trust, and student-focused growth. Blending research-based insights with vivid illustrations and adaptable strategies, this book empowers coaches and leaders to foster meaningful dialogue, deepen professional learning, and elevate teaching practice.

This accessible primer is an entryway to high-impact coaching practices. It provides a comprehensive look at the history and goals of coaching, how to build credibility, and the core skills that matter most. You will learn to:

  • Build rapport and trust, ground conversations in evidence, guide reflective dialogue, and provide actionable next steps
  • Integrate various coaching structures, including micro-coaching, short-cycle, and full-cycle coaching, to meet diverse needs
  • Expand your practice from individual support to effective team coaching, fostering collective efficacy and aligning growth with school-wide goals

With strategies, self-assessments, sample prompts, and other practical resources, this illustrated guide will help you strengthen your impact and unlock the full potential of coaching as a force for authentic growth.

Contents

Dear Reader

Dear Reader

About the Authors

About the Authors

About the Illustrator

About the Illustrator

Section 1: Where Coaching Begins

  • The History of Academic Coaching in Schools
  • A History of Limited Impact
  • Definitions of Coaching
  • Differing Roles in Coaching

Section 2: The Goals of Coaching

  • The Goals of Coaching: Building Expertise, Not Just Performance
  • Skills and Performance Improvement Require Deliberate Practice
  • Cues, Prompts, and Retrieval: Scaffolds for Learning and Performance

Section 3: Credibility in Coaching

  • Why Credibility?
  • Trustworthiness in Coaching
  • Competence in Coaching
  • Dynamism in Coaching
  • Immediacy in Coaching

Section 4: Coaching Skills

  • Validating and Expanding Coaching Skills
  • Connect ? Establish Rapport and Trust
  • Ground ? Use Evidence With Clarity and Neutrality
  • Engage ? Guide Thinking Through Conversation
  • Advance ? Provide Actionable Next Steps

Section 5: Coaching Models

  • Cycles of Coaching
  • Micro-Coaching
  • Short-Cycle Coaching
  • The COACH Framework: A Research-Based Guide for Short-Cycle Coaching Conversations
  • Full-Cycle Coaching
  • The Core Components of Full-Cycle Coaching
  • Annual Coaching Foundations Meeting
  • The Pre-observation Phase: Establishing Purpose and Clarity
  • The Observation Phase: Gathering Descriptive, Nonevaluative Evidence
  • Post-observation Conversation: Reflection, Analysis, and Refinement
  • Extending the Cycle: Analysis, Refinement, and Sustainability

Section 6: Coaching as a Team Sport

  • From Individual to Team Coaching
  • Designing Effective Structures for Team Coaching
  • Navigating Team Dynamics
  • Balancing Individual Growth With Collective Goals
  • Leveraging Feedback and Evidence for Teams
  • Aligning Team Coaching Within the System

Conclusion: Coaching as the Art and Science of Shared Growth

Conclusion: Coaching as the Art and Science of Shared Growth

References

References

Index

Index

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The Art and Science of Teacher Coaching

What It Is, What It’s Not, and How to Do It


April 2026 | 232 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 06/02/2026 9798348857875 $40.95

Elevate your coaching practice and make a meaningful impact

Instructional coaching holds immense potential to support teachers, elevate practice, and improve student outcomes. However, coaches are often left to figure things out on their own, and the impact of coaching can be limited without a clear, research-based approach. The Art and Science of Teacher Coaching is a practical and reflective guide that centers on collaboration, trust, and student-focused growth. Blending research-based insights with vivid illustrations and adaptable strategies, this book empowers coaches and leaders to foster meaningful dialogue, deepen professional learning, and elevate teaching practice.

This accessible primer is an entryway to high-impact coaching practices. It provides a comprehensive look at the history and goals of coaching, how to build credibility, and the core skills that matter most. You will learn to:

  • Build rapport and trust, ground conversations in evidence, guide reflective dialogue, and provide actionable next steps
  • Integrate various coaching structures, including micro-coaching, short-cycle, and full-cycle coaching, to meet diverse needs
  • Expand your practice from individual support to effective team coaching, fostering collective efficacy and aligning growth with school-wide goals

With strategies, self-assessments, sample prompts, and other practical resources, this illustrated guide will help you strengthen your impact and unlock the full potential of coaching as a force for authentic growth.


Table Of Contents:

  • Dear Reader
  • About the Authors
  • About the Illustrator
  • Section 1: Where Coaching Begins
  • The History of Academic Coaching in Schools
  • A History of Limited Impact
  • Definitions of Coaching
  • Differing Roles in Coaching
  • Section 2: The Goals of Coaching
  • The Goals of Coaching: Building Expertise, Not Just Performance
  • Skills and Performance Improvement Require Deliberate Practice
  • Cues, Prompts, and Retrieval: Scaffolds for Learning and Performance
  • Section 3: Credibility in Coaching
  • Why Credibility?
  • Trustworthiness in Coaching
  • Competence in Coaching
  • Dynamism in Coaching
  • Immediacy in Coaching
  • Section 4: Coaching Skills
  • Validating and Expanding Coaching Skills
  • Connect ? Establish Rapport and Trust
  • Ground ? Use Evidence With Clarity and Neutrality
  • Engage ? Guide Thinking Through Conversation
  • Advance ? Provide Actionable Next Steps
  • Section 5: Coaching Models
  • Cycles of Coaching
  • Micro-Coaching
  • Short-Cycle Coaching
  • The COACH Framework: A Research-Based Guide for Short-Cycle Coaching Conversations
  • Full-Cycle Coaching
  • The Core Components of Full-Cycle Coaching
  • Annual Coaching Foundations Meeting
  • The Pre-observation Phase: Establishing Purpose and Clarity
  • The Observation Phase: Gathering Descriptive, Nonevaluative Evidence
  • Post-observation Conversation: Reflection, Analysis, and Refinement
  • Extending the Cycle: Analysis, Refinement, and Sustainability
  • Section 6: Coaching as a Team Sport
  • From Individual to Team Coaching
  • Designing Effective Structures for Team Coaching
  • Navigating Team Dynamics
  • Balancing Individual Growth With Collective Goals
  • Leveraging Feedback and Evidence for Teams
  • Aligning Team Coaching Within the System
  • Conclusion: Coaching as the Art and Science of Shared Growth
  • References
  • Index

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