Coaches wear multiple hats. However, the primary service they provide is supporting administrators and teachers. Coaches are an important part of school-wide initiatives but more information is needed on how they support teaching and learning at middle and high school levels. In this chapter, the authors used the guide Standards for Literacy Coaches to examine the work of coaches in three urban schools. Further, the paper reports how coaching impacted teachers' practice. Document and content analysis of classroom observation checklists, field notes, and professional development artifacts were examined. Results show that the coaches described here worked primarily as skillful collaborators guiding teachers in curriculum development, providing in-class coaching, and working with administrators. Coaches assisted with lessons by co-teaching, modeled lessons for teachers, met with teachers to plan units and lessons, and provided teachers with a wide range of instructional resources.
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