Design Principles for Coaching Toward Reflection and Transformation in Literacy Preservice Teacher Education

Abstract

From 2014 to the present, we have engaged in a series of studies examining the features of coaching that support teachers in reflecting on practice and moving toward transformation in literacy teaching. In this report, we engage in an inductive analysis of the findings across this body of work to identify the evidence-based design features associated with these coaching practices. Our inspection of the body of work reported here traces the development and use of the Coaching with CARE—Critical, Appreciative, Reflective, and Experiential-model. These research studies draw on activity theory as a theoretical framework, design-development research as a method, and reflective coaching as a pedagogical stance. Literacy coaching, like teaching, is complex and nuanced. The design principles we have identified do not yield a formula for effective coaching but rather specify a set of principles that can guide decision making around coaching in complex spaces. In the conclusion, we identify areas for future research that can further inform the work of literacy teacher educators in support of preservice teachers.