LEARNING TO FACILITATE CONTENT-FOCUSED COACHING CYCLES

This paper serves two purposes. First, we present the content-focused coaching implementation framework, a comprehensive tool to support mathematics coaches in navigating the complexities of facilitating coaching cycles with teachers. Second, we describe a research study in which we partnered with nine mathematics coaches and examined how the framework influenced coaches’ perceptions of their professional growth when facilitating coaching cycles with local teachers. Through analysis of postcoaching cycle interviews, study participants reported the framework supported them to prepare intentionally for the three distinct phases of the coaching cycle (i.e., planning conversation, lesson implementation, debriefing conversation) and make responsive, “in-the-moment” decisions. Coaches also shared ways in which the framework
sparked new insights about coaching. We discuss how our findings connected to and extended prior research on coach learning and the use of coaching tools. We also present implications of our framework and findings for practicing mathematics coaches and future researchers.