Content-Focused Coaching: Transforming Mathematics Lessons

What kind of supports would keep teachers well equipped to help all of their students succeed? What if these same supports kept teachers energized, passionate, and informed about their fields? Content-Focused Coaching offers just such a sustaining system. CFC is a long-range professional development practice in which coaches work individually or with groups of classroom teachers to design, implement, and reflect on rigorous, standards-based lessons that promote student learning. Authored by two educators closely involved with the design of CFC, this book is perfect for K-8 staff developers, teacher leaders, administrators, and others interested in improving mathematics education.

Lucy West and Fritz Staub explain the general tenets of CFC and the fundamental foundations upon which it rests. Then they provide a wealth of examples of coaching in action in New York City's Community School District #2, a district known nationally for its progressive, innovative, and rigorous focus on professional development. To give readers a richer picture of what CFC entails, the three accompanying CD-ROMs contain extensive video footage of coaching sessions, including the preconference, lesson, and postconference. Full transcripts of the video segments can be used with the book or as independent tools for study groups.

Improve mathematics education. Rekindle teachers' passions for their profession. Read West and Staub and implement Content-Focused Coaching in your school or district.

Lucy West is the founder and Director of Metamorphosis Teaching Learning Communities. Formerly the Director of Mathematics Instruction in New York City's Community School District 2, Lucy also served as Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Grades K-12, for nearly 200 schools in New York City's Region 9. She is a nationally known speaker on professional development practices and a master mathematics coach.

Fritz C. Staub is a research scientist and lecturer in the Institute of Education at the University of Zrich. He is also associated with the University of Pittsburgh, as a research associate at the Learning Research and Development Center and as an international fellow with the Institute for Learning, where he was the original developer of Content-Focused Coaching, especially as it applies to mathematics.