Literacy Coaches

The role of the literacy coach can be described as a collaborative consultant to support K-12 teachers.

Literacy coaches provide teachers with essential understandings and specific literacy resources that support student learning.

Sample Activities of literacy coaches in the CH-UH School District

School-Level Activities

1. Modeling best practice literacy lessons: e.g. literature circles, D.S.A. driven instruction, writing conferences, small group guided reading sessions, strategy instruction, etc.

2. Facilitating and participating in teacher workshops, study groups, and grade level/department meetings

3. Providing staff development related to the translation and interpretation of literacy assessments to assist in the design of targeted instruction

4. Assisting teachers with the identification and implementation of student interventions

5. Observing(non-evaluative) in classrooms to guide next steps in planning support for teachers: in-services, acquisition of resources, design of learning centers, etc.

District-Level Activities

1. Collaborating in the design of district goal setting within a balanced literacy framework

2. Supporting the development of curricular resources related to literacy

3. Developing and distributing bibliographies related to literacy: books, videos, websites

4. Teaching/supporting SIRI instruction

5. Collaborating with instructional coaches and reading specialists district-wide

6. Augmenting the core program to align with data demonstrated needs related to the ELA standards

7. Facilitating teacher sessions reflecting on student work.

8. Serving as committee members on literacy related task forces (i.e. ELA core adoption, adolescent literacy, balanced literacy, and summer reading)

9. Assisting with family literacy activities such as building level literacy nights, kindergarten orientation, and the annual fall Title I meeting

10. Attending and supporting community literacy outreach efforts such as the summer reading book fair, poetry gala, and author visits

11. Producing Lit Bits, the district literacy newsletter

12. Providing summer literacy offerings such as Champ Camp and Writers’ Workshop

Out-of-District Activities

1. Participating in professional development to increase literacy understandings

2. Participating in meetings with literacy specialists from other districts (i.e. MSAN, The Literacy Network, and The Regional Literacy Team)

3. Participating in Ohio’s Literacy Specialist Project

4. Serving on state literacy committees such as the Ohio Department of Education range finding committee and writing assessment committee

5. Presenting at state and national conferences on topics related to literacy (i.e. Lexile Conference, READ 180, OCTELA, MSAN, and NBPTS)