56. Coaching Outside the Box: Creative Ways to Support Teacher Growth with Christina DeCarbo (Literacy Coaching Conversations)

In this Coaching Conversation, I sit down with Christina DeCarbo, a Pre-K–5 literacy coach, teacher, national presenter, and curriculum author from Northeast Ohio. Christina is also known as Miss DeCarbo, and her work is fueled by a passion for making professional learning engaging, joyful, and practical.

Christina shares her journey from first-grade teacher to literacy coach, including her school’s shift from balanced literacy to the Science of Reading. She offers creative and out-of-the-box ways to support teachers: building trust, celebrating growth, and embedding PD into the day in ways that are non-threatening and highly effective.

Key Takeaways:

• How Christina helped lead her district’s transition from balanced literacy to structured literacy.
• Her biggest takeaways from spending a week learning with Dr. Anita Archer.
• Why opportunities to respond and corrective feedback are game-changers.
• Coaching strategies that meet teachers where they are, whether it’s through cycles, small groups, or “grab-and-go PD.”
• Fun ways to celebrate teacher and student growth (spoiler: there’s a disco ball involved!).
• How to balance choice for teachers while keeping coaching connected to schoolwide goals.

Christina’s insights will inspire you to rethink coaching as something that’s not just supportive, but fun, creative, and deeply impactful.

Connect with Christina DeCarbo:

• Instagram:  @missdecarbo
• Website: missdecarbo.com
• Facebook Group: Teaching with Miss DeCarbo
• Grab Christina’s FREE Download on Unique Coaching Opportunities here!

🎧 For more episodes in the Coaching Conversations series, check out the full Literacy Coaching playlist here.

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• Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy
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