A Literacy Coach’s Playbook

A Literacy Coach’s Playbook is a useful resource that coaches will continue to return to as they develop their school’s leadership team and transform literacy instruction.

This book introduces the Clinical Literacy Coaching Framework (CLCF), an exciting new approach to literacy coaching and leadership that is aligned with the International Literacy Association’s standards for literacy professionals.

Grounded in research and experiences from the field, the CLCF includes coaching practices and techniques adapted from teaching hospitals that can be applied in K–12 school settings. It differs from other literacy coaching models because it provides practical ways to establish buy-in and distribute leadership among all colleagues. Various tools, resources, links to videos, and examples of applications in schools will help coaches differentiate their work and develop colleagues' collective efficacy for literacy instruction and leadership.

This timely text reflects the new expectations and responsibilities that educators are experiencing in today’s schools and will leave readers feeling empowered and equipped to support their students and teachers.

Book Features:

• Coaching responsibilities and tasks annotated with ILA standards.
• Guiding Questions at the beginning of each chapter.
• Pause, Ponder, and Note opportunities throughout the text to orient readers.
• Spotlights on Coaching at the elementary and secondary levels demonstrate concepts in action.
• Figures and appendices provided throughout to support the implementation of the CLCF and coaching work.
• The end of each chapter offers a Reflect and Self-Assess section that includes self-efficacy scale items to support the coach/leader’s confidence in their performance of coaching tasks.

Adam Brieske-Ulenski is an associate professor of reading education and chairperson of the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Department at Bridgewater State University. Michelle J. Kelley is a professor of reading in the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida.

"The Clinical Literacy Coach Framework is a coherent and elegant model for any school, district, or province to improve K–12 transdisciplinary literacy learning and leading. Written in a professional yet conversational manner, Brieske-Ulenski and Kelley draw you into this bookand make you feel as if you are genuinely part of a professional conversation and professional learning community."
—From the Foreword by Enrique A. Puig, director, Morgridge International Reading Center, College of Community Innovation and Education, University of Central Florida

“A Literacy Coach’s Playbook provides literacy coaches, administrators, reading specialists, and classroom teachers with clear, actionable processes to successfully implement professional development, which results in improved literacy outcomes for learners. The Clinical Literacy Coaching Framework moves literacy coaching to a distributed leadership model in which all teachers are involved in providing and receiving coaching. The framework builds self and group efficacy in designing and sustaining school-wide literacy initiatives.”
—Pamela A. Mason, senior lecturer on education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

“Working alongside Dr. Brieske-Ulenski to implement the Clinical Literacy Coach Framework at our K–5 elementary school was transformative. This framework was instrumental in building the capacity of our literacy teachers and had an exponential impact on our students' achievements in ELA. Thanks to this shift, we moved our school from a C to an A.”
—Shannon Mahoney, principal, Neptune Elementary, Osceola County, Florida

“The authors state in the Introduction that this book can be used in various ways. With this in mind, I know that Chapters 4 through 6 will be ‘must reads’ for coaches seeking a cohesive framework that focuses on achieving a school’s literacy goals through a combination of large-group professional development, grade-level professional learning, and individual coaching. In addition, the Spotlight on Coaching sections are extremely helpful in bringing the components of the Clinical Literacy Coaching Framework to life.”
—Susan K. L’Allier, associate Professor Emerita, Northern Illinois University, co-author of No More Random Acts of Literacy Coaching