Coaching with Powerful Interactions®: A Guide for Partnering with Early Childhood Teachers

Judy Jablon, Amy Laura Dombro, and Shaun Johnsen

This interactive, enhanced e-book (and now also available in print with included online access to the same video content) is a guide for coaches and other professionals who support the work of teachers. Powerful Interactions Coaching begins with YOU – how you are and how you approach this work. Your stance, or how you are, shapes how you think and act as a coach. A Powerful Interactions coach:

• Observes for and highlights teachers’ competence

• Uses observations and articulation to promote intentionality

• Values individualizing to develop trusting relationships

• Promotes a mutual learning partnership

• Supports teachers by modeling what to say and do and how

Grounded in your stance, you launch a Powerful Interaction when you decide to say or do something that conveys to someone, “I notice you, I’m interested in you, and I want to know you better.” This moment of personal connection builds upon the trust and security that exists between the two of you. Within a trusting and secure relationship, a person is more open to learn from the guidance and instruction you offer.

This guide describes an attitude and way of being that can stand alone or complement any coaching model you are using. 

The print version can be purchased at the NAEYC Online store by clicking here. The iBook can be purchased from the Apple iTunes Store by clicking here.

We will let you know as soon as the Google version is available.

Powerful Interactions®: How to Connect with Children to Extend their Learning

Amy Laura Dombro, Judy Jablon, and Charlotte Stetson

Everyday you interact with children.  Your decisions about what to say and do make a difference in their lives. You can enhance children’s learningyou’re your effectiveness as a teacher if just some of your “everyday” interactions become intentional and purposeful Powerful Interactions.

Three steps can help:

In Step One, Be Present, you pause to prepare for a Powerful Interaction. To do this, you tune in to how you’re feeling and consider how you might need to adjust to create a “just right fit” with the child.

In Step Two, Connect, you let the child know that you see him, are interested in what he is doing, saying, and thinking, and want to spend time with him. Deepening your relationship in this way helps the child feel safe, confident, and open to learning. Staying connected and observant allows you to make the most appropriate decision about step three.

In Step Three, Extend, you use your strong relationship with the child to stretch his knowledge, skills, thinking, and/or vocabulary and language.

Whether you work in a childcare center or family childcare home, in an Early Head Start or Head Start program, or in a preschool or early elementary classroom, this book is about you and for you. 

Note: Powerful Interactions is available now. To learn more or to order a copy, please click here for more info.