Biography-Driven Reflective Coaching: Empowering Teachers Through Strategy Implementation With Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

• In Event: Research on Coaching as Professional Development

Abstract

Project RISE’s objectives are for 90-100 Arkansas teachers to be ESL endorsed by 2017 and show increased evidence of best instructional practices for ELs. Teachers are coached as they implement new strategies and observed using the Biography Driven Practices (BDP) rubric (Herrera, 2010). This study investigated three research questions:
1) To what extent do teachers implement best practices for ELs during classroom observations as measured by the BDP rubric over the two year program?
2) What challenges do teachers face when implementing new strategies?
3) What impact does two sessions of biography driven reflective coaching have on teachers’ practice?
Results of the ANOVA revealed a significant positive increase across the three semesters. Teachers’ challenges were addressed through positive coaching experiences.

Authors

• Diana Gonzales Worthen, University of Arkansas

• Janet Penner-Williams, University of Arkansas

• Eva I. Diaz, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville