Coaching is one of the best ways to enhance the skills of early childhood practitioners and ensure high-quality learning experiences for young children with and without disabilities. With this authoritative professional learning resource, educators and early interventionists will learn how to use coaching and consultation methods to support inclusion and ensure the best outcomes for all children from birth to five. Written by two experts on early childhood intervention and special education, this book introduces multiple models of professional collaboration and offers in-depth guidance on how to implement an effective consultation/coaching model in early childhood settings. From big-picture considerations to small logistical details, professionals will master the entire process of creating, maintaining, and evaluating a successful coaching relationship. In each chapter, case examples, discussion questions, chapter summaries, and group activities reinforce key points and encourage reflection. An essential professional resource and an ideal textbook for courses on consultation and coaching, this comprehensive guide will help early childhood practitioners work together to improve educational and developmental outcomes for all young children. DISCOVER HOW TO: Establish ground rules and objectives for coaching Build rapport and strong communication skills within a coaching relationship Systematically gather information about the child, teacher, and learning environment to inform coaching practices Work together to set and prioritize intervention goals for children Create and implement an action plan that addresses intervention goals Deliver effective performance feedback Evaluate the success of both the coaching plan and the partnership Use current technology to harness the benefits of tele-intervention, mobile coaching, and remote consultation PRACTICAL MATERIALS: Support successful coaching and consultation with more than 25 reproducible downloads, including data collection forms, action plans, a planning matrix, self-assessments, and coaching session sample logs. Instructors will also find downloadable PowerPoint presentations aligned to each chapter.

Table of Contents:
About the Downloads About the Authors Preface Chapter 1: Introduction to Models of Professional Collaboration  Learning Objectives  New Roles and Responsibilities for Early Childhood Professionals  Models of Professional Collaboration: Promising Practices to Support Professional Learning  Models of Coaching and Consultation in Early Care and Education  Models of Consultation  Overview of Origin and Scope of Consultation in Early Childhood Intervention  Research on the Efficacy of Behavioral Consultation and Coaching  Consultation/Coaching in Early Childhood: A Professional Collaboration Model  Determining the Goals and Purpose of Consultation/Coaching  Who Provides Consultation/Coaching in Early Childhood Settings?  Research on How Consultation or Coaching is Used in Early Education and Intervention  Summary  Discussion Questions  Case Study Activities Chapter 2: Agreements for Coaching Services: Establishing Ground Rules for Coaching  Learning Objectives  Introduction: Establishing the Ground Rules for Coaching  Why Are Requests for Coaching Services Initiated  Establishing Objectives Before Initiating Coaching Services  Creating an Agreement for Coaching Services  Key Elements in an Agreement for Coaching Services  What Details Should Be Addressed in an Agreement for Coaching Services?  Benefits of a Formal Agreement for Coaching Services  Caveats Related to On‐Line and E‐Communications  Summary  Discussion Questions  Case Study Activities Chapter 3: Building Rapport in a Coaching Relationship  Learning Objectives  Introduction: The Nature of a Coaching Partnership  Initiating a Coaching Partnership  The Role of Rapport in Building a Coaching Partnership  Building and Sustaining Rapport: Recommendations for Coaches  Use of Interpersonal Communication Skills in Establishing and Building Rapport  Non‐Verbal Communication Skills Linked to Building Rapport  Verbal Communication Skills Linked to Building Rapport  Use of Different Forms of Questioning in Communicating with a Partner  Common Mistakes in Interpersonal Communication  The Role of Social Power and Influence in Coaching Partnerships  Perspectives and Interests of the Coach and Partner in a Coaching Relationship  Factors that May Contribute to the Success or Failure of a Coaching Partnership  Summary  Discussion Questions  Case Study Activities Chapter 4: Observation and Information Gathering  Learning Objectives  Introduction: Observation and Information Gathering  Getting to Know the Learning Enviornment  Assessing the Teaching Skills of Early Childhood Educators  Assessing the Program's Climate or Culture  Teddy, Alexis, Brittany, and Shelly  Summary  Discussion Questions  Case Study Activities Chapter 5: Implementing the Plan  Learning Objectives  Setting a Goal  Reviewing Assessment Information  Triaging or Prioritizing Targets for Intervention  Reaching Consensus and Moving Forward: Planning for Action  Selecting Strategies to Address the Issue  Choosing Child‐Focused Intervention Strategies  Choosing Evidence‐Based Strategies that Promote Adult Learning  Creating an Action Plan  Supports for Implementation  Curriculum Planning Matrices  Observation and Data Collection  Performance Feedback  Ways to Share Performance Feedback  Challenges to Implemtnation  Summary  Discussion Questions  Case Study Activities Chapter 6: Evaluating the Success of the Coaching Plan and the Partnership  Learning Objectives  Introduction: Evaluation of Coaching Partnerships  The Relationship Between Coaching Context and Evaluation  Use of Common Coaching Tools in Evaluating a Coaching Partnership  Evaluating the Process and Outcome of a Coaching Partnership  Expectations of Stakeholders: Implications for Evaluating a Coaching Partnership  Summary  Discussion Questions  Case Study Activities Chapter 7: Behind the Scenes in the Coaching Model  Learning Objectives  Introduction  The Role of Logistics in Supporting Effective Coaching: An Overview  Key Elements in a Coaching Partnership  Considerations in Assigning Coaching Personnel  The Expertise Model of Caseload Allocation  Cultural Competence in Assigning Caseloads  Enrollment of Children with Special Needs in Selected Programs  Assigning Caseloads: Striking a Balance  Supporting Coaching Services: Creating Office Space at Host Sites  Professional Preperation and Learning for Coaches: Building Capactiy  Key Elements in a Coaching Partnership: Personal and Professional Organization  Challenges in Adopting or Expanding Coaching Services  Summary  Discussion Questions  Case Study Activities Chapter 8: Coaching and Consultation in a Virtual World  Learning Objectives  Introduction  Building Effective Professional Relationships Virtually  Sharing Information Virtually  Creating Virtual Repositories of Resources  Capitalizing on the Benefits of Could‐Based Systems  Silver Linings  Virtual Coaching  Lessons Learned from Early Intervention Tele‐Intervention  Summary  Discussion Questions  Case Study Activities Index