Praise for The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching
Based on his own experiences, significant research, and the current pulse of the profession, Jim Knight has assembled sets of strategies, principles, processes, and techniques for anyone who prepares, guides, or coaches teachers. Looking closely, one also discovers an even richer vein of information about the art of instructional excellence. On the matter of coaching feedback, for example, Knight provides stunningly sophisticated descriptions of what good teachers attend to. This well-organized book by one of the nation’s leading authorities on the coaching process should live on the shelves of every principal, staff developer, and mentor teacher. Experienced instructional coaches and aspiring coaches alike will benefit from this accessible handbook. —Robert J. Garmston, EdD, and Arthur L. Costa, EdD, Professors Emeriti, California State University, Sacramento, and coauthors of Cognitive Coaching: Developing Self-Directed Leaders and Learners Just when I thought my coaching tool kit was complete, Jim Knight writes a musthave for every coach, coach of coaches, and leader of instructional teams. The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching is packed with the essentials for creating and implementing a coaching culture that will improve instruction, communication, and even your personal life. I am a better person and coach because I believe and practice the Partnership Principles in every area of my life. Learning to be a better listener and questioner improved my communication with both colleagues and family. The closing sections of each chapter are my favorite because they demand change, growth, and action—all while holding true to the spirit of the Partnership Principles. —Keysha McIntyre, educational consultant, MoldingMinds Moments, LLC Who better to write the definitive guide to instructional coaching than Dr. Jim Knight—the guy who coined the term instructional coaching? This guide provides a comprehensive exploration of instructional coaching and what helps it deliver great results for students. I particularly liked the section on system support. Great work by individual coaches and teachers will have so much more impact when the system is aligned and supportive. Administrators and coaches will frequently turn to Knight’s practical advice as they take steps down the implementation pathway. —John Campbell, Founding Director, Growth Coaching International
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There simply isn’t a bigger influence than Jim Knight in the world of instructional coaching. His words, through workshops, keynotes, books, blogs, and articles, give us a greater understanding of how to coach and learn from those we coach. I always look forward to his next piece of research, and this book is a compilation of his greatest hits from the last couple of decades, and a guide to doing that work to a deeper degree. I am fortunate to call Jim a mentor and a friend, and I see this deeply impactful book as a go-to resource for a very long time. —Peter DeWitt, EdD, leadership coach, author, and Education Week blogger