Coaching for Balance

How to Meet the Challenges of Literacy Coaching

Jan Miller Burkins

“Jan Miller Burkins is gifted at melding the day-to-day realities of literacy coaching with the latest research in diverse realms. You will find yourself nodding in agreement often if you’re a practicing literacy coach, thankful that Jan has opened her school and thinking process up for other coaches to examine and learn from in this inspiring book.”
— Brenda Power, Editor of Choice Literacy

Although literacy coaches now have many more resources to turn to than they did just a few years ago, Coaching for Balance: How to Meet the Challenges of Literacy Coaching moves beyond simply addressing literacy instruction to addressing the pedagogy of coaching. This practical resource highlights the competing demands that administrators, teachers, and school communities place on literacy coaches, and how coaches might discover balance in their roles.

Author Jan Miller Burkins, a practicing literacy coach, defines literacy coaching, describes her coaching responsibilities, and explores how a coach can develop and work within a philosophy of coaching. Using personal experiences, clarifying analogies, and research, Burkins explores the personal and professional responsibilities of literacy coaches, while also encouraging strategies of self-preservation. Use this resource to develop thoughtful literacy coaching practices because, as Burkins suggests, the route to making an impact on student achievement is through—rather than around—teachers.

© 2007 | 240 pp.
ISBN 13: 978-0-87207-617-4