Virginia Department of Education's Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC)

Why Is Peer Coaching Getting So Much Attention?

From John Hattie’s (2017) findings of top influences on student achievement, collective teacher efficacy has the second highest effect size on student learning, hands down. This finding, coupled with Jim Knight’s coaching cycle (2015), suggests educators explore peer coaching as a high leverage practice (CEC/CEEDAR, 2017) to collaborate with other professionals to increase student success through peer-coaching. The five steps above integrate peer coaching with the use of evidence-based and high leverage practices in special education are described in more detail from the ASELA newsletter, Collegial Coaching for Special Educators by Jocelyn Washburn (2018).

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News and Events

Text Creating Connections to Shining Stars circling a purple and yellow star design.

Save the date! Virginia's early childhood birth-to-five conference will be returning to the Hotel Roanoke July 17-19, 2019.  Registration for Creating Connections to Shining Stars is now open.

Green, yellow, red, and blue text spelling "I'm Determined". Two eyes and smiling mouth are visible in the center of the words.

Applications are now being accepted to participate in the I'm Determined Youth Summit at James Madison University.  Applications are due March 6, 2019.

Save the date flier for 2019 TechKnowledgy Conference on April 8-9th. Depicts a boy and girl student smiling and looking at the digital tablet.

Our statewide assistive technology conference "TechKnowledgy" will be held at the Doubletree Midlothian-Richmond on April 8-9.  Registration for Techknowledgy is now open.

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Featured Library Resource

Cover of Peer Coaching book by Pam Robbins. White background with rainbow colors across middle.

Peer Coaching to Enrich Professional Practice, School Culture, and Student Learning.  Peer coaching can enhance teaching practices and students’ performance by empowering educators to take ownership of their professional learning. With peer coaching, educators set personal goals and use nonevaluative feedback from trusted colleagues.  In this book, author Pam Robbins explores how to build a foundation of trust to support peer coaching by using differentiated activities that align with the needs of a specific context.  She also examines how to use peer coaching structures to promote professional growth, collegiality, and cultures of continuous improvement and support student learning.  Tools and tips from peer coaches and school leaders that can support—or help you implement—peer coaching practices in any school are also included.  You may also be interested in Pam Robbins' free peer coaching webinar.