New Teacher Coaches
Our educational system is ever-changing. We have many “new” ideas that turn out to be old ideas with a new name. If you stay in the profession long enough you will go through the cycle once or twice and think “is this Déjà vu?” What is quite sad is that I have been teaching only 8 years and I already have seen the same trends come and go. However, a trend that is on the brink of changing our educational system that hasn’t occurred in the past is the notion of coaching teachers.
Teacher preparation is not equipping teachers to step foot into a classroom and begin teaching [see an earlier post I wrote on this topic]. In addition to teacher prep, we also have to care for our teachers once they jump in. Just like we reinforce skills with students, we must reinforce skills with teachers. That means we do not just drop them at the door, wave goodbye, and never check in with them. We must dive in their first year with them and help them navigate the waters; even with the best teacher preparation program in the country under their belts. No matter how many times I prepare for any life event, in the moment I have so many questions that I did not think to ask prior. I also want feedback on how I reacted so that I could be more efficient and effective the next go-around. The same goes for teachers. They cannot foresee every question they might have prior to going into the classroom. They also need to tweak their performance and without an extra set of eyes it is hard to see the areas of improvement. The longer a teacher practices a skill or technique the wrong way the deeper the habit becomes, thus making it even harder to correct later down the road. Coaches help teachers stop and reflect in the moment so that the poor habit never forms.
Education week wrote an article supporting my idea of coaching a teacher [see the full article here]. They even provide tips on how to coach teachers effectively [see the full article here]. Being a coach myself, I agree with each tip listed and encourage anyone in a leadership role to remember honest feedback is not criticism, rather advice. Creating a relationship with a mentee teacher and explaining how open and honest communication in the relationship will benefit the teacher’s overall performance is imperative. It is not an attack. It is not meant to belittle. It is an urgent message to help mold the teacher into their best instructional self. You know coaching is working when a coach gives a nonverbal signal to a teacher in the middle of the lesson and the teacher responds immediately. This one action can change the whole course of a lesson and help students succeed in the moment. My own teaching has improved from being a coach. I can now look at my classroom through a different lens and know exactly what areas need to be tweaked- who is/is not getting it; who is/is not paying attention; who needs a visual/auditory cue; who is/is not keeping up, etc.
School districts have to the see the need of pouring into teachers so that teachers can effectively pour into students- a domino effect. The New Teacher Project, known as TNTP, added their spin on why coaching works in hopes that many more school districts will see the need and provide the opportunity for teachers [see the full article here].
Does your school encourage coaching teachers? If so, how are coaches utilized?
About the author, Gretchen
I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.