The Development and Use of a Coaching Observation Tool to Examine Coaching Behaviors

The field of education relies heavily on instructional coaches to build teacher capacity in the implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) with fidelity. Although observation tools are used to measure the fidelity of implementation by teachers, less is reported about specific behaviors demonstrated by a coach. This two-part nonexperimental study used primary and secondary data. It sought to develop a valid and reliable Coaching Observation Tool, and used it to analyze 36 recorded real-time coaching sessions supporting the implementation of an EBP, Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI). The tool was developed using an iterative process of initial coach interview and systematic review of the literature, review of a sample of recorded coaching sessions with the initial draft of the tool, and focus group member checking interview with coaches. Next, the tool was used to analyze a sample of recorded TRI coaching sessions. The coaches in the present study provided coaching to teachers during year 2 of a TRI multi-site randomized controlled trial study. Although the tool was developed and used to identify the frequency with which discrete coaching behaviors were used, the current tool did not demonstrate validity and reliability. The findings suggest this tool could be helpful to identify coaching practices to support the implementation of EBP, such as TRI. Researchers using coaching to support the implementation of EBP alone, or as a component within PD, will find this tool provides them a clearer understanding of the instructional coach in building teacher capacity with the fidelity of implementation of the EBP.