Summary

There's a lot of conversation about how to make schools better.Unfortunately, the nature of those conversations often makes thingsworse. Evocative Coaching: Transforming Schools One Conversationat a Time maps out a way to change that. By taking ateacher-centered, no-fault, strengths-based approach to performanceimprovement, the Evocative Coaching model generates the motivationand movement that enables teachers and schools to achieve desiredoutcomes and enhance quality of life. Viewed as a dynamic dance,the model is choreographed in four steps ? Story, Empathy, Inquiry,Design ? which are each laid out in its own chapter with powerfulillustrative materials and end-of-chapter discussion questions toprompt further reflection.

Bringing together the best research and wisdom in educationalleadership and professional coaching, authors Bob and MeganTschannen-Moran have developed a simple yet profound way offacilitating new conversations in schools through Story Listening,Expressing Empathy, Appreciative Inquiry, and Design Thinking. It'san iterative process that moves beyond old ways of thinking, doing,and being. It's an inspirational process that reinvigorates thepassion for making schools better, one conversation at a time.

This happens when coaches:

give teachers our full, undivided attention; accept and meet teachers where they are right now, withoutmaking them wrong; ask and trust teachers to take charge of their own learning andgrowth; make sure teachers are talking more than we are; enable teachers to appreciate the positive value of their ownexperiences; harness the strengths teachers have to meet challenges andovercome obstacles; reframe difficulties and challenges as opportunities to learnand grow; invite teachers to discover possibilities and find answers forthemselves; dialogue with teachers regarding their higher purpose forteaching; uncover teachers? natural impulse to engage with colleagues andstudents; assist teachers to draw up a personal blueprint forprofessional mastery; support teachers in brainstorming and trying new ways of doingthings; maintain an upbeat, energetic, and positive attitude at alltimes; collaborate with teachers to design and conduct appropriatelearning experiments; enable teachers to build supportive environments andteams; use humor to lighten the load; and inspire and challenge teachers to go beyond what they would doalone.

Each chapter provides a research-based theory to support thestrategies presented, and includes specific suggestions andanecdotes. The Evocative Coaching model makes coaching enjoyable bygetting people to focus on what they do best, and it inviteslarger, more integral conversations so that people talk about theirwork in the context of other things they care about. Resting onstrong, evidence-based practices, the Evocative Coaching modeloffers educators the help they need to meet the challenges ofincreased accountability and expectations. This model can also beused effectively by coaches and leaders in other organizationalcontexts.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1: What Is Evocative Coaching? Chapter 2: Coaching Presence Loop I: The No-Fault Turn Chapter 3: Story Listening Chapter 4: Expressing Empathy Loop II: The Strengths-Building Turn Chapter 5: Appreciative Inquiry Chapter 6: Design Thinking Chapter 7: Aligning Environments Chapter 8: Coaching Conversations Chapter 9: The Reflective Coach

To learn more about Evocative Coaching and to sign up for theEvocative Coach Training Program, visit www.SchoolTransformation.com.