Get Better Faster: A 90-Day Plan for Coaching New Teachers

by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo, Jon Saphier (Foreword)

Effective and practical coaching strategies for new educators plus valuable online coaching tools

Many teachers are only observed one or two times per year on average—and, even among those who are observed, scarcely any are given feedback as to how they could improve. The bottom line is teachers do not need to be evaluated so much as they need to be developed and coached.

In Get Better A 90-Day Plan for Coaching New Teachers, Paul Bambrick-Santoyo shares instructive tools of how school leaders can effectively guide new teachers to success. Over the course of the book, he breaks down the most critical actions leaders and teachers must take to achieve exemplary results. Designed for coaches as well as beginning teachers, Get Better Faster is an integral coaching tool for any school leader eager to help their teachers succeed.

Get Better Faster focuses on what's practical and actionable which makes the book's approach to coaching so effective. By practicing the concrete actions and micro-skills listed in Get Better Faster, teachers will markedly improve their ability to lead a class, producing a steady chain reaction of future teaching success.

Though focused heavily on the first 90 days of teacher development, it's possible to implement this work at any time. Junior and experienced teachers alike can benefit from the guidance of Get Better Faster while at the same time closing existing instructional gaps.

Featuring valuable and practical online training tools available at Get Better Faster provides agendas, presentation slides, a coach's guide, handouts, planning templates, and 35 video clips of real teachers at work to help other educators apply the lessons learned in their own classrooms.Get Better Faster will teach

The core principles of Go Granular; Plan, Practice, Follow Up, Repeat; Make Feedback More Frequent Top action steps to launch a teacher’s development in an easy-to-read scope and sequence guide It also walks you through the four phases of skill

Phase 1 (Pre-Teaching): Dress Rehearsal Phase 2: Instant Immersion Phase 3: Getting into Gear Phase 4: The Power of Discourse Perfect for new educators and those who supervise them, Get Better Faster will also earn a place in the libraries of veteran teachers and school administrators seeking a one-stop coaching resource.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction

393 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2016

About the author

Paul Bambrick-Santoyo is the Managing Director of Uncommon Schools Newark, which is composed of seven North Star Academy schools. During Bambrick-Santoyo’s eight years at North Star, the schools have seen dramatic gains in student achievement, reaching 90+% proficient on state assessments in almost every category and grade level. As a result, they were recently recognized with the National Blue Ribbon award. Author of Driven by Data: A Practical Guide to Improve Instruction, Bambrick-Santoyo has trained over 2,500 school leaders nationwide in as his work at Uncommon Schools and as the Data-Driven Instruction faculty member for New Leaders for New Schools, a national urban school leadership training program. Prior to joining North Star, he worked for six years in a bilingual school in Mexico City, where he founded the International Baccalaureate program at the middle school level. He earned a B.A. in Social Justice from Duke University (1994) and his M.Ed. in School Administration via New Leaders for New Schools from the City University of New York—Baruch College (2003).

http://uncommonschools.org/bio/1017/p...

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I taught in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, I had an instructional coach who was in my corner and a principal who acted as an instructional facilitator. I was mentored and trained using the GBF Scope & Sequence. My coach would come into my classroom, film me teach, and meet with me the next day to discuss action items. My principal often times led our PLCs and data meetings. My coach and principal were in-it-to-win-it with me and my campus. I began to be comfortable with visitors in my classroom and the initial awkward video-taping. I desired to be an effective educator, just like my coach and principal.

I learned in moving to a district in Austin that those pivotal educator leaders are uniquely built and not always found. There was no structure or system in place at my new low-performing middle school. As a teacher, I had to act as a coach to my peers and help them get better faster. It was in the best interest of the children. I felt lost on how to do it, but used my time in CFBISD to guide me (the GBF Playbook). Now, at my district in the greater San Antonio area, I am a new instructional coach. I am strengthened by the rigor and excellence this book provides. Instead of the teacher-side receiving feedback, I can gently and compassionately come alongside the teachers I serve to help refine their practices. I certainly do not boast and say “I know it all,” but I have seen first-hand how this playbook changes low-performing schools.

*steps off soapbox*

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I'd say 4.5 stars, because the structure of the book was a bit awkward to get used to. That said, even though it's about coaching new teachers (and it does a great job teaching how to coach new teachers), it emphasizes practice and what a teacher should look for in his/her classroom and how to up the rigor. I plan to re-read it piece by piece and work on a new concept every week until it's mastered. BTW, watching the DVD is REQUIRED, otherwise nothing in this book will stick.

[Blaire Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are coaching new teachers in any capacity, you NEED this book! It was a game changer for me in the first week I started using it. My only wish is that I'd had it sooner!

[Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book for coaching new teachers that I am aware of. If you are an administrator and you are looking for a prioritized list of which items to coach new teachers on first, this book is for you.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there are some strategies and perspectives I do not agree with philosophically, there are many strategies that teachers and coaches could use immediately to support effective instructional practices.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice. I like how it gives a concrete plan, hopefully it will improve my leadership skills this year...

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE book to help you mentor other teachers and help them improve their teaching. Read alongside Teach Like A Champion.

[Phoebe Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for instructional leaders and coaches!!! Something to own as you will refer back to it often!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much learned from this book. I am a bit overwhelmed by the information I took in. But, one thing that is stuck in my head and my heart is that we need to strive for perfection. Although, no one will ever be perfect, if we chase perfection, then we will catch excellence. So much learned...

[Kat]

Great book for coaching teachers. It’s a little more directive than other approaches, but I think there are ways to blend the different styles. I’ve got lots of questions and new things to consider, but I wouldn’t be learning if I didn’t already have questions.