Moments in Mathematics Coaching
Improving K–5 Instruction
- Kristine Reed Woleck - New Canaan Public Schools, New Canaan, CT
Principalship
"A must-read for all mathematics teacher coaches. Woleck brings us into her coaching life by sharing these cases from her work. Through the engaging details of these personal stories, she skillfully leads us into considering various coaching models, essential coaching skills, and effective coaching practices. Focus questions at the end of each chapter add an incentive for readers to deepen their own practices and use this book as the basis for study groups."
—Euthecia Hancewicz, Mathematics Teacher Support Specialist
Mathematics Educator Support Services, Westhampton, MA
"Woleck provides an instructive and insightful analysis of what makes coaching a powerful and capacity-building resource for schools. This highly engaging and informative account details how effective coaching skills develop and become refined through research-based study, daily practice, and ongoing reflection."
—Mary Monroe Kolek, Deputy Superintendent
New Canaan Public Schools, CT
Follow a mathematics coach through real cases from actual school situations!
Kristine Reed Woleck reflects on specific cases or "moments" from her years as a mathematics coach, unpacking and examining for readers the critical elements of mathematics teaching, learning, and coaching. This accessible, practical resource discusses what effective coaching looks like and how beginning and veteran mathematics coaches in Grades K–5 can bring about meaningful improvements in mathematics instruction. The real-life cases illustrate how to
- Incorporate key elements of coaching into practice
- Build trusting relationships with teachers
- Make effective decisions throughout the coaching cycle
- Reference data and the curriculum as coaching tools
- Use reflection to link coaching concepts to actual practice
"Woleck provides an instructive and insightful analysis of what makes coaching a powerful and capacity-building resource for schools dedicated to ensuring excellence in teaching and learning. This is a highly engaging and informative account of how effective coaching skills develop and become refined through research-based study, daily practice, and ongoing reflection. What makes this book stand out is that Woleck treats mind-set and principle-based understanding as core dimension that develop and promote expertise. The author's melding of research, practice, and reflection is done artfully, enhancing the appeal and usefulness of the book as both a personal resource for educators and a tool for ongoing, collaborative study in text-based professional development."
"A must-read for all mathematics teacher coaches. Woleck brings us into her coaching life by sharing these cases from her work. Through the engaging details of these personal stories, she skillfully leads us into considering various coaching models, essential coaching skills, and effective coaching practices. Focus questions at the end of each chapter add an incentive for readers to deepen their own practice and use this book as the basis for study groups."
"For the times when working as a math coach can make us feel unsure and shaky, Woleck’s book offers some steady, solid ground. The wisdom she has gained through years of coaching is evident. She has melded and adapted several models of coaching for her practice in ways that make good sense. In her telling of actual classroom cases, we can appreciate just how adaptable and flexible coaching requires us to be in taking a range of coaching stances and in filling a variety of roles. Woleck has not shied away from addressing the dilemmas coaches face in their practice nor simplified the complexity of the decisions coaches must regularly make. This book is replete with usable resources to help us develop and refine our coaching practices."
"This book stands out as one that gives a full picture of the role of the coach while being extremely specific. Beyond the obvious tasks of getting started and planning with teachers, the book discusses aspects of the job that are rarely covered in coaching books. Cases ground the reader in the important features of the job and are used to point out links to research. I recommend this as a handbook for all math coaches."
