Reviews
Ruth E. Gallucci, 619 Coordinator, Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - July 25, 2022
"Drs. Dinnebeil and McInerney’s much-awaited Coaching and Consultation Practices in Early Childhood is the next must-read for those of us passionate about supporting young children with disabilities in high-quality general early childhood classrooms. As the focus of early childhood special education teacher preparation programs and professional development begins to shift focus from training teachers to provide direct instruction to children to that of training teachers to provide coaching and consultation to their general education teaching partners, this new book becomes not only timely but critical to their success. Coaching and Consultation Practices in Early Childhood provides Itinerant Early Childhood Special Education Teachers with the tools and resources necessary for collaborative consultation and ultimately ensures our youngest learners equitable access to high-quality early learning environments."
Robin McWilliam, Ph.D., Professor, Special Education and Multiple Abilities, University of Alabama, Director, EIEIO - July 15, 2022
"After many years of study and training personnel, Dinnebeil and McInerney have provided the field with a masterful resource for coaching and consultation practices. Especially valuable is the chapter on building rapport in a coaching relationship. This book makes clear that coaching and collaborative or “soft” consultation are not mutually exclusive. The emphases on adult learning and performance feedback will propel teachers and other professionals towards fidelity to evidence-based practices."
Camille Catlett, MA, Senior Technical Assistance Specialist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill - July 10, 2022
"I have often used and shared Consultation in Early Childhood Settings as part of my work. Now that I’ve had a chance to thoroughly review Coaching and Consultation Practices in Early Childhood, I am thoroughly impressed with how much more thorough, thoughtful, and current this new resource is. The authors have created a book that is simultaneously well-grounded in current research and infinitely practical. The chapters are rich in detail, resources, and examples and offer specific illustrations with immediate relevance to both in-person and virtual applications. Full size samples of forms, reports, and correspondence add to the usefulness of this resource."
Louise Kaczmarek, Ph.D., Associate Professor Emerita, University of Pittsburgh - July 5, 2022
"Coaching and Consultation Practices in Early Childhood fills a significant gap in the resources available for teaching preservice students and in-service professionals to become coaches and consultants in early childhood settings. The book’s comprehensive, yet practical orientation dissects every aspect of the coaching process with detailed explanations, plentiful examples, thought-provoking exercises, and usable forms to help readers acquire skills for negotiating the intricate dynamics of establishing successful partnerships with early childhood practitioners on their home turf. Especially noteworthy is the consistent inclusion of technology considerations (e.g., various forms of electronic communication, videoconferencing, web-based platforms) throughout the book as well as a chapter dedicated to issues that became apparent and further transformed virtual coaching and consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Simone DeVore, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Department of Special Education, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater - July 1, 2022
"In this valuable new text, Drs. Dinnebeil and McInerney bring together consultation & coaching research and practice so that inclusion teams can successfully teach all young children. Coaches will find practical guidance on their journey toward reaching mutually agreed upon goals. Evidence-based resources for partnership teams abound with the aim to equip a partner with knowledge and skills in supporting a child’s IFSP or IEP goals. The authors include many examples and worksheets for coaches and partners as they identify goals including child specific (focusing on learning objectives and interventions), partner specific (focusing on beliefs and practices), and program specific (focusing on overall quality improvement) outcomes.
In an important analysis, the authors discuss social power and social influence and their effects on coach-partner relationships. Readers are invited to honestly reflect on their communication skills, their ability to express respect, and their acceptance of feedback from others. Rich case examples illustrate interactions, problem solving approaches, and progress monitoring techniques that coaches and partners can choose from and implement. The authors acknowledge that developing a collaborative relationship takes time and dedication. They offer practical suggestions and accommodations so that partners who come together with a coach feel supported in their daily work and can effectively respond to child- and program-specific needs.
As early intervention programs and school districts increasingly seek coaching teams to facilitate inclusive early care and education, they face real-life logistics and rapid changes in the use of technology. The authors provide honest discussions and reflections on the benefits and challenges of virtual communication, meetings, resource sharing, and progress monitoring. Readers will be able to apply tips and reflections to their daily work; they will know how to assure that all team members are included and supported throughout the coaching journey. I hope that this text will invite instructors to offer trans-disciplinary courses and practicums for their pre-service professionals. The book is also well suited for in-service professionals who need to effectively respond to the increasing demands for consultative coaching. This book offers co-learning opportunities for coaches and partners so that they may become co-pilots in providing inclusive early care and education."