Synapse Early Learning Systems

Developing High Level Instructional Supports: A Guidebook for Coaches and Instructional Leaders

This book provides coaches and instructional leaders with all the most up to date, research-based information on quality improvement planning, and how to implement effective coaching practices to help teachers increase the effectiveness of their instructional supports practices.

This easy to follow, practitioner- friendly guidebook provides clear and concise definions, specific practices, and real classroom examples. A wide range of instructonal supports practices are described, including those suggested by frameworks such as Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge, and those that are measured by observational instruments such as the Pre-K CLASS and The ECERS-3. 

Appreciating that there are different stages of teacher development and several different levels of knowledge and understanding, the author provides suggestions for how to explain the concepts and practices in ways that beginning, experienced, and expert level teachers will understand and be able to act upon. 

The Book Features the Following Components:

Definitions and Descriptions of Key Terms and Concepts

Real Classroom Examples

Research-supported Classroom and Coaching Practices

Planning Templates

Self-Assessment Templates for Instructional Leaders and for Coaches

Sample Feedback provided to Teachers

Sampling of the Topics Covered in the E-Book:

A Word About Continuous Quality Improvements

The Vital Role of Leadership

Stages of Teacher Development 

Developing Conscious Competence

Self-Efficacy

Teacher Knowledge Development

Parallel Processes

Why Coaching?

Goals of Coaching

Features of Good Coaching

What Good Coaching is NOT

Knowledge vs. Understanding

Teachers’ Improvement Goals

Implementation Science and PSDA Cycles

Creating a Quality Improvement Plan

Connections with Curriculum

The “Why” of Higher-Order Thinking

Barriers and Obstacles to Coaching Teachers

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Webb’s Hierarchy of Knowledge

Coaching on Classroom Assessment Tool Instructional Supports Dimensions

Various Templates such as Concept Development Grid

Concept Development

Quality of Feedback

Language Modeling

Low, Mid and High Examples

Sample Teacher Feedback for Various Levels

The ECERS-3 – Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale

PLC’s: Professional Learning Communities

Activities to Expand Teacher Understanding (for trainings, PLCs or Coaching)

Reflective Questioning

Use of Video Taping

Beach’s Teacher Practice Protocol for Expanding Instructional Supports

The book will first be available for $24.95 in E-book format, and will be emailed to pre-orderers on or before Aug. 15, 2020.

Pre-paid orders can be made through the Synapse website via PayPal. See below.

Pre-order Before August 15th, 2020 and Receive 10% OFF!