Three instructional coaches share more than 200 of the most helpful problem-solving strategies they've used in their decades-long work with teachers, administrators, and coaches.

The Instructional Coaching Handbook is not a new model of coaching. It addresses common hiccups that prevent productive coaching conversations from happening in the first place. From their thousands of annual school visits, the authors recognize that coaches frequently confront similar challenges when helping educators address seven skills and dispositions--and they devote a chapter to each:

* Efficacy
* Equity
* Academic instruction
* Social-emotional instruction
* Openness to feedback
* Lesson planning
* Team membership

Each chapter features scores of practical, research-based strategies with a history of success. Mix and match them according to your leadership style, the needs of the student or teacher, and the demands of the curriculum.

In addition to implementation stories that show what the strategies look like in a range of classroom settings, this handbook includes effective tools and resources that help guide you through the thorniest of coaching conversations. All you have to do is dive into an appropriate chapter; scan for ideas that match your style, the educators you coach, and your unique context; and start making a difference!

Osborne, Tamarra

Tamarra Osborne is a project manager, trainer, and coach with WestEd, a national nonprofit in San Francisco, California. Tamarra's philosophy of early education favors students learning through experiences and using play to learn academics. She is known as an effervescent trainer and technical coach who sees the heart of a problem and provides sensible, warm-hearted solutions. Her training topics include formative assessment, curriculum development, presentation skills, implicit bias, and educational technology. Tamarra is proud to be published in Young Children magazine from the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Julien, Angela Bell

Angela Bell Julien owns and manages Angela Bell Julien Publications & Consulting. She provides school leaders and teachers with practical implementation strategies in site leadership, instructional improvement, strategic cycles of inquiry for systemic improvement, and relationship building. All told, she has spent close to 35 years working in high schools. Intrigued by the small learning communities movement, she molded the process into a pathway to provide equity, decrease dropout rates, and increase post-high school success for all students.

Young, A. Keith

A. Keith Young is an education coach, trainer, and writer. After a short stint at seminary, he pivoted to teaching secondary students English and math. Eventually, Keith shifted to training teachers and leading school improvement efforts at the district level. Later, he became a principal, leading school turnaround work and regularly increasing student outcomes by double digits in Colorado, Puerto Rico, and Arizona. Keith now trains and coaches administrators, school leadership teams, and teacher coaches. As a trainer, he maintains a progressive philosophy and teaching style that embraces the best of constructivism and direct instruction. As a coach, he's known for telling it like it is and using a blended coaching model.