Instructional Coach Support

Launch into Teaching prepares coaches to help individuals or groups of teachers to enhance student achievement around a standards-based curriculum. Through developing a professional learning community of district instructional coaches, Launch into Teaching immerses these coaches in learning about balanced instructional practices that have proven effectiveness in raising student achievement. Working around the substantive issues of teaching, instructional coaches learn to use formative assessment tools to gather evidence about teacher and student growth. Using this evidence, instructional coaches work closely with classroom teachers on developing skills around selecting rigorous supplementary texts to complement the content, engaging students in rigorous discussions around their learning, and immersing students in rigorous tasks that enable them to share their understanding.

Launch into Teaching works closely with instructional coaches to develop their practices through sustained and intensive preparation in many forms:

  • Coach Study Groups (CSG): Instructional coaches meet regularly with trained Launch into Teaching coaches on site or via polycom. Using a study group format, instructional coaches immerse themselves in developing their coaching skills and strategies to apply in their work with classroom teachers in various content areas. Relevant research around topics of teaching and coaching are discussed and adapted to the unique needs of the group.
  • Theory Into Practice support sessions (TIP): Between Coach Study Groups, coaches meet to continue applying learning from the CSG. Skilled Launch into Teaching leaders facilitate discussions around the individual successes and challenges the instructional coaches are experiencing as they apply ideas from a CSG into in their practices. TIP sessions provide additional opportunities to “fine tune” and practice new learning to address specific coach and classroom teacher needs.
  • One-on-One Conferences: Individual coaching needs are addressed through regularly scheduled One-on-One Conferences between instructional coaches and their Launch into Teaching coaches. During these conferences, goals are set and co-planning occurs to find ways to help facilitate the growth of specific teachers.

Launch into Teaching transforms teaching practices, focuses goals for student learning, and builds a culture for instructional coaching. Contact us so we can develop a program that meets your district’s needs.