Publications
Moves for Launching a New Year of Student-Centered Coaching
Diane Sweeney, Leanna Harris, and Julie Steele (2022). Moves for Launching a New Year of Student-Centered Coaching. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. To purchase, visit Corwin.
Engaging teachers in coaching is an ongoing process that requires planning and intentionality. Whether you are new to a school or have been there a while, the beginning of the year brings forth the opportunity to envision what your work will look like and how you will deepen the impact it makes on teacher and student learning.
Start the Year Strong with Student-Centered Coaching
Designed to ensure a successful start to the school year, this guidebook provides strategies for coaches, principals, and district leaders to successfully launch a new year of Student-Centered Coaching. Organized into fifteen moves, this resource provides:
- Concrete ideas for how coaches can connect with new and returning teachers
- Strategies for supporting teachers to increase student engagement and build classroom community
- Steps for building strong principal and coach partnerships that will last throughout the year
- Tools and artifacts that can be used to message and market coaching
- Ideas for scheduling coaching that is flexible and meets teachers’ needs
- Videos and other resources that dig deeper into each of the fifteen coaching moves that are included
By investing carefully in the first few weeks of school and crafting a clear plan with this guidebook, the foundation you build will support your work far beyond the start of the school year.
The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching
Sweeney, Diane and Harris, Leanna (2020). The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. To purchase, visit Corwin.
Insights, ideas, and inspiration to keep student learning at the center of instructional coaching
Diane Sweeney and Leanna Harris, whose best-selling books have influenced the practice of thousands of K-12 coaches, frame how Student-Centered Coaching serves as an evidence-based model of professional learning that focuses on student outcomes. Shifting the focus from “fixing” teachers to partnering with them to reach goals for student learning takes coaching to the heart of what matters most in schools. The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching includes all-new material that is grounded in the latest research and the authors’ extensive experience in the field of coaching. In it, readers will find:
- An emphasis on how coaching can be asset-based and focused on equity
- Current research in adult learning and professional development
- Examples of how to integrate curriculum into coaching cycles
- Anecdotes that illustrate what Student-Centered Coaching looks like across grade levels and content areas
- Designed to accompany Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves (Corwin, 2017) and Leading Student-Centered Coaching (2019), The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching provides the reader with a clear vision for how coaching can promote both teacher and student learning.
“In an honest and heartfelt voice, Diane and Leanna provide guidance and practical advice to help coaches navigate the complexities associated with their role. Diane and Leanna’s passion to ensure that student learning stays at the center of improvement work is evident throughout this book as they paint a path of implementation for coaching that will help educators in realizing collective impact.”
–Jenni Donohoo, Author and Consultant
Student-Centered Coaching from a Distance
Sweeney, Diane and Harris, Leanna (2021). Student-Centered Coaching from a Distance. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. To purchase, visit Corwin.
Ideas, inspiration, and the ‘moves’ to keep student learning at the center of instructional coaching–no matter where it occurs
As we return to ‘normal’ the guidance in this book will ensure we continue to focus on deeply knowing our students, having a coherent and focused curriculum, and coaching from a place of formative assessment and evidence. Authors Diane Sweeney and Leanna Harris, whose best-selling books have influenced thousands of K-12 coaches, have written Student-Centered Coaching from a Distance to help coaches and teachers adapt. Each chapter includes coaching ‘moves’ that can be used in virtual, hybrid, and in person settings. These technology-focused moves are accompanied by language stems, note catchers, and other tools that provide structure and coherence to coaching conversations. Each chapter also provides specific moves that promote equity and work to remove many of the barriers that have been brought into clearer focus during the challenges of our times. Readers will find:
- a highly effective coaching approach tailored to the distance learning context
- strategies to help close opportunity gaps
- in-depth instruction for co-teaching from a distance
The enduring practices in this book will help coaches partner with teachers during challenging times and keep student learning at the center–for years to come.
Leading Student-Centered Coaching
Sweeney, Diane and Mausbach, Ann (2018). Leading Student-Centered Coaching. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. To purchase, visit Corwin.
Essential leadership moves for supporting instructional coaching in your school
Strong leadership is essential in any successful instructional coaching effort. Leading Student-Centered Coaching provides principals and district leaders with the background, practices, and tools required for leading coaching efforts that have a profound and positive impact on student and teacher learning. Filled with practical ideas that school leaders can easily apply to their own school settings, this book includes:
- Tools and techniques for preparing a school for coaching, launching a coaching culture, and supporting coaches
- Leadership Moves sections that provide strategies for building principal and coach partnerships
- Richly detailed Lessons from the Field, based on the authors’ real-life experiences, that illustrate principal and coach collaboration
- Recommendations for coaches to use as they strive to increase their impact
With a focus on the critical role of school leadership, this action-oriented guide provides the key ingredients for ensuring the success of school-based coaching initiatives.
“Sweeney and Mausbach explore the necessary ingredients to a successful instructional coach partnership between the principal and the coaches. This is a must-read for building leadership teams implementing an instructional coach program”
—Timothy S. Grieves, Chief Administrator
Northwest Area Education Agency, IA
“This book synthesized the work necessary of school leaders when working with the coach. As a principal who was a student-centered coach, this book has shown me how I can tweak the skills I learned and apply them with a leadership lens.”
—Kelly Neylon, Principal
Meadowview School, Woodridge IL
Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves
Sweeney, Diane and Harris, Leanna (2016). Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. To purchase, visit Corwin.
The essential coaching moves that every coach needs to know
Student-centered coaching is a highly-effective, evidence-based coaching model that shifts the focus from “fixing” teachers to collaborating with them to design instruction that targets student outcomes. But what does this look like in practice?
Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves shows you the day-to-day coaching moves that build powerful coaching relationships. This innovative book is the perfect companion to Diane Sweeney’s Student-Centered Coaching: A Guide for K-8 Coaches and Principals and Student-Centered Coaching at the Secondary Level. Readers will find:
- Coaching moves that can be used before, during, and after lessons
- An abundance of field-tested tools and practices that can be put to immediate use
- Original video clips that depict and unpack key moves
- Richly detailed anecdotes from practicing coaches that provide multiple access points and strategies
Written for coaches who work with teachers in all K-12 content areas, Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves will help coaches support teacher development, foster a culture of learning, and improve student achievement.
“This book contains many hands-on techniques that can serve coaches well in working with teachers (and students). It addresses a lot of the common pitfalls that occur when learning to be a coach. The book serves as a great tool for experienced coaches as well as those just entering into the position.”
—Ann M. Lorey, Common Core Coach and Science Department Instructional Supervisor
Palo Alto Unified School District, CA
Student-Centered Coaching at the Secondary Level
(This book is no longer in print. Our new book, The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching serves as a replacement.)
Sweeney, Diane (2013). Student-Centered Coaching at the Secondary Level. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Written for coaches who work with secondary teachers in all content areas, Student-Centered Coaching at the Secondary Level offers rich case studies and practical tips and tools. Coaches and administrators get real-world specifics: Core practices for tackling the unique challenges of coaching across a variety of content areas at the secondary level; Extending coaching to teams of teachers, rather than just individuals; Using standards, such as the Common Core, to coach toward specific goals for student learning; Embedding formative assessments into coaching conversations; Moving past teacher resistance; and, Working in tandem with principals to ensure that coaching accomplishes the goal of increased student learning.
With graphic organizers, planning matrices, and other valuable resources, this step-by-step guide is your ultimate road-map to coaching success. By focusing coaching on student learning—rather than on fixing teachers—you can make a measurable impact on student achievement.
Student-Centered Coaching: A Guide for K-8 Principals and Coaches
(This book is no longer in print. Our new book, The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching serves as a replacement.)
Sweeney, Diane (2011). Student-Centered Coaching: A Guide for K-8 Principals and Coaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Student-Centered Coaching is grounded in a simple but powerful premise: school-based coaching can be designed to directly impact student learning. When the focus is shifted from “fixing” teachers to collaborating with them in designing instruction that targets student achievement, coaching becomes both more respectful and results-based. The book also underscores the critical role of the principal in developing systems and structures for supporting teacher development and fostering a culture of learning. Each chapter includes: A model for designing and implementing student-centered coaching; Data-driven coaching tools and techniques focused on student learning; A framework for measuring the coaching’s impact; and, Specific practices for leading a student-centered coaching effort.
Also included are exercises designed to promote coach and principal collaboration, giving them essential tools for enhancing student achievement.