Coaching with Powerful Interactions: A Guide for Partnering with Early Childhood Teachers, Second Edition

Coach Michael and Teacher Lucy having a conversation

Judy Jablon, Amy Laura Dombro, Shaun Johnsen

About the Book

From the authors of the bestselling book Powerful Interactions comes a guide crafted especially for coaches and all professionals supporting the work of early childhood teachers.

When the quality of interactions improves, relationships become deeper and stronger, which in turn leads to more effective learning and growth. Taking the three-step Powerful Interactions framework—originally created to enhance the interactions between children and their teachers—this resource applies it to the interactions between teachers and coaches.

This new edition offers

Coaching principles, strategies, and stories to inspire and motivate your practice
Insights about developing a strengths-based coaching stance
Information and ideas for building respectful, trusting relationships that evolve into mutual learning partnerships

You can set in motion ripples of positive change that extend to teachers and, ultimately, to young children and their families.

Includes online video!

List of Videos
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Preface
Welcome
- What Is Coaching?
- What Is Coaching with Powerful Interactions?
- Your Coaching Stance
- It’s All About the Children
- It Can Be In Person or Virtual
- It’s Simple and Affordable and Applies to All of Us
- Coaching Is About Relationships
- Thoughts About Coaching with Powerful Interactions
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Powerful Interactions Between Coach and Teacher
- What Is a Powerful Interaction Between a Coach and a Teacher?
- Step One: Be Present to Coach
  - Being Present Leads to More Effective Coaching
- Step Two: Connect as a Coach
  - Connecting and Building Trusting Relationships Lead to More Effective Coaching
- Step Three: Coach to Extend Learning
  - Extending Learning and Continuing to Learn Lead to More Effective Coaching
- The Three Steps: A Cumulative Effect
Chapter 2: The Five Principles for Coaching with Powerful Interactions
- Principle One: A Strengths-Based Perspective Searches for and Highlights Competence
  - A Strengths-Based Perspective Makes You a More Effective Coach
  - A Strengths-Based Perspective in Practice
- Principle Two: Articulation Encourages Repetition of an Action with Greater Intentionality
  - Using Articulation to Promote Intentionality Makes You a More Effective Coach
  - Articulation in Practice
- Principle Three: Individualizing Supports the Development of Respectful, Trusting Relationships Needed for Learning
  - Individualizing Makes You a More Effective Coach
  - Individualizing in Practice
- Principle Four: A Mutual Learning Partnership Promotes Shared Responsibility and Accountability
  - Building a Mutual Learning Partnership Makes You a More Effective Coach
  - A Mutual Learning Partnership in Practice
- Principle Five: Modeling Matters—What You Say and Do Influences All Outcomes
  - Modeling Makes You a More Effective Coach
  - Modeling in Practice
Chapter 3: The Three Steps of Coaching with Powerful Interactions
- Step One: Be Present to Coach
  - Do a Quick Me Check
- Step Two: Connect as a Coach
  - Connect Strategy One: Be Trustworthy
  - Connect Strategy Two: Listen to Learn
  - Connect Strategy Three: Communicate to Form Partnerships
- Step Three: Coach to Extend Learning
  - Extend Learning Strategy One: Focus on Goals You Set Together
  - Extend Learning Strategy Two: Notice Moments of Effectiveness
  - Extend Learning Strategy Three: Use Prompts and Questions to Think Together
  - Extend Learning Strategy Four: Document Plans and Progress Together
Closing Thoughts
Appendix A: Coaching with Powerful Interactions Steps and Strategies at a Glance
Appendix B: A Powerful Interactions Classroom Observation and Feedback Conversation
Appendix C: Rehearsing a Coaching Conversation
Appendix D: Planning for the Feedback Conversation
References
Index

List of Videos

Book Details

Product Code: 2452

ISBN: 978-1-952331-23-7

Publish Date: 2024

Citation (in Chicago 17th ed. style):

Jablon, J., A.L. Dombro, & S. Johnsen. 2024. Coaching with Powerful Interactions: A Guide for Partnering with Early Childhood Teachers. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Related Resources

Articles

"Coaching In Difficult Conversations: A Relationship-Based Approach" - In this article, Hayley Jackson, Rachel E. Schachter, Holly Hatton-Bower, and Lisa L. Knoche explore how difficult conversations can spur growth and help both coaches and educators improve their practice. (Young Children, Fall 2023)

"Unlocking the Potential of Data-Driven Coaching: Child Assessment Evidence as a Guide for Informing Instructional Practices" - Christine M. Snyder and Holly P. Delgado follow two teaching teams and a coach as they gather and examine evidence of children’s learning and develop new strategies to meet children’s needs. With one very experienced teaching team and one newer one, this exploration of data-informed coaching has something for everyone (including tips for coaches). (Young Children, July 2019)

"Promoting Powerful Interactions Between Parents and Children" - Kristan Stewart-Henry and Amber Friesen discuss how teachers can inspire families to use Powerful Interactions with their young children at home. (Teaching Young Children, August/September 2018)

Audience: Trainer

Topics: Child Development, Social and Emotional Development, Relationships, Professional Development, Professional Development, Coaching, Training

Judy Jablon

Judy Jablon is the founder and executive director of Leading for Children, a national nonprofit with the mission of providing the best possible early learning experiences for young children while creating environments where educators thrive. Through her writing, video production, and professional development experiences, Judy encourages early childhood educators to draw on their own wisdom to have more meaningful interactions and opportunities for learning.

Amy Laura Dombro

Amy Laura Dombro is an early childhood educator and documentarian who captures stories of change initiatives with the goal of supporting people who do their best work on behalf of children and families. Amy’s work serves as a mirror for busy educators and organizations, providing them with the opportunity to see and build upon what works, think creatively to overcome challenges, track progress, and plan next steps on their path forward.

Shaun Johnsen

Shaun Johnsen is a television professional with more than 25 years of experience in the field of education. He is a co-owner of Murray Hill Studios, a New York City–based video production studio, and uses his unique experiences as a producer, photographer, videographer, editor, and musician to create rich, meaningful content. Shaun has collaborated with Judy, Amy, and others to create videos that invite educators to view their own practice, identify moments of effectiveness, analyze and reinforce these moments, and strategize about how to apply these practices more extensively with greater intention.

Reviews

Coaching with Powerful Interactions, Second Edition, is a deeply thoughtful, foundational book for coaches. It’s an invaluable guide that clearly takes you through the process of self-reflection to create authentic, meaningful, and equitable partnerships with the educators you work with. The abundant personal narratives are really effective because coaching is so focused on human relationships. It’s just a gem for coaches!

—Juliette Lahey, Early Childhood Coach, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo

Post-COVID burnout, staffing issues, and compensation are negatively affecting the early childhood workforce. This book walks you, step-by-step, through how to engage in strengths-based coaching. By following the steps, I am able to notice what my staff is doing well and empower them to engage in reflection and shared decision making.

—Jennifer Metzger, Training and Curriculum Specialist

Coaching, like teaching, is a skill that is refined over time and requires ongoing effort to improve practice. Coaching with Powerful Interactions is a valuable tool for both new and seasoned coaches in support of their ever-evolving work and relationships with teachers.

—Angela Zilch, Assistant Director of Professional Development and Training, Southwest Human Development