What educators say

"I wish I had had this book in the ’70s when I started as an instructional coach. … No one is more versed in the coaching literature of this century … than Keith Young, Angela Bell Julien, and Tamarra Osborne. They have, indeed, created a synthesis of wise practitioners through the decades, but they have also added new dimensions to the field. … For leaders and coaches committed to equity, this book is a new window. The Instructional Coaching Handbook also takes on the broadest range I have seen in areas that pertain to successful instruction … This book is an encyclopedia of concrete, actionable tips and strategies for coaches. … There are no leaders or coaches who will not get new ideas from this carefully crafted book, no matter how experienced they are."

— Jon Saphier, Founder, Research for Better Teaching; lead author of The Skillful Teacher, Boston, Massechusettes 

“Since our team picked up The Instructional Coaching Handbook we’ve had ‘ah’s’, ‘oh’s’, and ‘I can do that!’ It is such an easy read that makes sense at every sentence. I have used these strategies and worked with Angela and Keith and loved them coaching me as I learned how to be a coach to my teachers. If you’re looking for a ‘game-changer,’ look no further; grab this book and implement the strategies. I promise you, it’ll make the difference.”

— Sheena Alaiasa, 2014 NASSP National Middle Level Principal of the Year; Principal, Pacific Heritage Academy, Salt Lake City, Utah

“We were the only school in a district of 40 schools to empty our intensive groups for every grade and in every subject! I just want you to know, Keith, that I owe a lot of this to you! Specifically, the instructional help, the lesson design PD, and the coaching process and monitoring.”

— Jennifer Payne, Former Principal, Williams Elementary School, Bakersfield City School District, Bakersfield, California

“Using the methods proffered in The Teaching Strategy Handbook has changed the way our school creates academic and social belonging. … Using these methods has increased student growth, closed achievement gaps, and brought joy to our campus.”

— Amy Kolquist, Principal, Vista Peak Exploratory School, Aurora, Colorado

“Practical, empowering, and immediately usable, The Teaching Strategy Handbook is a must-have teaching strategy handbook. With clear, actionable steps teachers can easily implement, it also serves as a valuable tool for evaluators and instructional coaches.”

— Jenna Woodland, EdD, Superintendent, Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124, Evergreen Park, Illinois

“The Teaching Strategy Handbook exemplifies the art and science of teaching in action. … Every educator can benefit from having this guide in their toolkit.”

— Jannelle Kubinec, Chief Executive Officer, WestEd, San Francisco, California

“What a goldmine of information is packed into The Teaching Strategy Handbook. This innovative book is brilliantly organized around major classroom challenges. Realizing that teaching is both science and art, the authors provide the research behind each strategy and then coach readers in how to best achieve individual goals. This book is your go-to guide in making you the teacher you always wanted to be.”

— Laura Colker, EdD, Researcher, Trainer, and Author of The Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Washington, DC

“An indispensable guide for educators, The Teaching Strategy Handbook delivers over 200 solutions for common classroom issues, such as student engagement, learning gaps, and equity. Authored by four passionate practitioners who live and breathe education, this hands-on resource offers timely, research-based strategies and teacher-tested examples to navigate the highs and lows of teaching today.”

— Jill Tsoukalas, EdD, Assistant Superintendent, Troy Community Consolidated School District, Plainfield, Illinois

“The Teaching Strategy Handbook is a bit like a magic box: once opened, it provides the essential tools to become a more dynamic teacher and to cultivate more engaged and successful students. … I worked with two of the authors for years, and they have placed the best of their best classroom practices in this practical volume.”

— Magda Molina, Spanish Literature Teacher and Teacher of the Year, Nogales High School, Nogales, Arizona

“Grounded in current research (i.e., Hattie’s effect sizes), The Teaching Strategy Handbook emphasizes both explicit and inquiry-based instruction to support student engagement, well-being, and rigorous learning. … A welcome addition to our PD collection, it’s accessible across a spectrum of teacher experience and training, and manages to re-center people, not technology, at the heart of education. A must-have!”

— John McKeown, EdD, Literacy Coordinator, Üsküdar American Academy, Istanbul, Turkey

“The authors have done an incredible job making complex aspects of teaching accessible, practical, and genuinely doable. … If I were still an administrator, I would ensure every educator—teachers and assistants alike—had a copy of this essential resource.”

— Beverly Erdman, Former Principal, Albstadt, Germany

“The Teaching Strategy Handbook is an invaluable guide that clearly and effectively bridges research and classroom practice. … I look forward to adding this book to our professional development library. It will serve as a strong, go-to resource for both new and experienced teachers.”

— Sylvia Earl, Principal, Iron Mountain Academy, Phoenix, Arizona

“The last thing we need is another new coaching model, we need The Instructional Coaching Handbook to keep as we plan for our coaching with teachers, administrators, etc. My favorite chapter is Chapter 5, Coaching Openness to Feedback, one of the topics I find myself, as a coach, addressing often.”

— Peggy Potthoff, Instructional Coach, Rock Island County Regional Office of Education, Moline, Illinois

“I attended a training with Keith and Tamarra. One takeaway from the training is building solid relationships with teachers. Effective instructional coaching centers on trust and collaboration between the coach and the teacher.”

— Yajaira Salazar, Program Advisor, Merced County Office of Education, Merced, California

Podcasts, webinars, and blog posts

Supporting Teacher Wellbeing — Keith was the guest on the podcast, Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud, June 11, 2026. Chapter 8 of The Teaching Strategy Handbook, teacher burnout, PLCs that work, and circles of influence were the topics.

Empowering Leaders, Empowering Classrooms: Practical Moves That Make a Difference  — Keith and his editor Jamie Greene provided an ASCD webinar on classroom management during National Principals' Month, October 15, 2025.

Observing and Coaching Classroom Management — Keith shared tips on coaching at the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast, August 28, 2025. The conversation focused on what coaches do with a brand-new teacher, and with a veteran who says “I’ve never had a student like this.”

Confident Classroom Management — Keith guest-wrote on the ISTE+ASCD blog, July 30, 2025. The topic was four moves from the QuickWins! Deck: start fresh, separate the behavior from the relationship, redirect calmly, and run a social audit.

Fast Feedback for Meaningful Growth: Tailoring Feedback for High-Needs Students and Teachers — Keith led a webinar for the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty, Francis Marion University, June 25, 2025.

Coaching for Equity and Efficacy — Keith and his co-authors Angela Bell Julien and Tamarra Osborne hosted an ASCD webinar, July 20, 2023.

Keith Young: The Instructional Coaching Handbook — The podcast -- C3: Connecting, Coaches, Cognition -- invited Keith to talk about his book The Instructional Coaching Handbook, March 29, 2023.

The Instructional Coaching Handbook: 200+ Troubleshooting Strategies for Success — Justin Baeder's Principal Center Radio featured Keith and his new book, February 6, 2023.

What I do

Coaching the Coaches. I train instructional coaches and the administrators who supervise them, then model it live — a real teacher, a real classroom, the coach standing next to me. Eighteen formats for coaching before, during, and after instruction. Thirty-five moves for the adult who doesn’t want to be coached. These slots fill first every year.

Principal and Teacher-Leader Coaching. Training comes first, then I show up in your building and do the work alongside you. I was a principal. I don’t hand leaders anything I haven’t done myself with a staff watching. Two principals I coached went on to national honors. Sheena Alaiasa of King Intermediate in Kaneohe, Hawaii, was named the 2014 NASSP National Middle Level Principal of the Year; Andrew Gutierrez of Gateway Elementary in Phoenix was named Arizona’s 2024 National Distinguished Principal by NAESP.

Instructional Leadership Teams. Narrow the whole staff to four to six research-based practices. Set goals and interim measures. Put people, time, and budget behind them. Teams I’ve trained have held reading and writing gains for years, not semesters.

Equitable Instruction. Explicit teaching and inquiry both. Feedback students can act on. Differentiation that reaches the kids at the margins. In 2000, while I was a school improvement specialist for Department of Defense schools, our Black eighth graders ranked first and second in the nation in NAEP mathematics.

In all work, one thing I don’t hedge on is equity. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just chapters in my work; they are the work. Every child in every building deserves strong teaching. 

Connect

Ready to transform your educational practice? Seeking to enhance leadership and coaching in your school? Contact Keith Young at AKYConsulting for a partnership that promises change.

Email: hello@akyconsulting.com

Follow along

Facebook: A. Keith Young -- Author

Instagram: @AKYConsulting

LinkedIn: AKeithYoung

Newsletter: sign up at hello@akyconsulting.com

Current & former partners

Arizona Department of Education, Phoenix, Arizona

Baptist Church Mission School, Faridpur, Bangladesh

Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Virginia

First 5, Fresno, California

First 5, San Francisco, California

Francis Marion University, Florence, South Carolina

Frankfurt International School, Frankfurt, Germany

Joliet Public Schools, Joliet, Illinois

Illinois State Board of Education, Springfield, Illinois

Lake County Regional Office of Education, Forest Lake, Illinois

Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, California

Mediterranean Association of International Schools, Madrid, Spain

McGraw Hill, New York, New York

Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, Arizona

Monterey County Office of Education, Salinas, California

Nogales Unified School District, Nogales, Arizona

Norfolk Public Schools, Norfolk, Virginia

Peoria Unified School District, Peoria, Arizona

Region 4 Education Service Center, Houston, Texas

Rock Island County Regional Office of Education, Moline, Illinois

Sacramento County Office of Education, Sacramento, California

San Joaquin County Office of Education, Stockton, California

Shonto Preparatory School District, Shonto, Arizona

South Bay Union School District, Imperial Beach, California

South Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral, Columbia, South Carolina

South Carolina Endeavors, Columbia, South Carolina

Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Troy Community Consolidated School District, Plainfield, Illinois

Valley View Community Unit School District, Romeoville, Illinois

Ventura County Office of Education, Ventura, California

WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies, Camarillo, California

WestEd Comprehensive School Assistance Program, Sacramento, California

Windward District, Kaneohe, Hawaii

Every engagement begins with a conversation: your school, your data, what you need. I’ll tell you what I see and what I’d try first. If it fits, we put dates on the calendar. If it doesn’t, you still leave with something you can use. Email me: hello@akyconsulting.com

Teach, Coach, and Lead with Speed, Ease, and Impact.