Teacher Improvement Starts with Personalized Coaching
I enjoyed the #educoach Twitter chat that went down last night. I met some amazing instructional coaches around the nation. What I love most about them is that they realized although they have a lot of knowledge to share with teachers, they still have areas they need to grow as well. #lifelonglearner
Coaching is one of the most effective ways for a teacher to improve. When an expert teacher can go into a classroom while a teacher is instructing students live and provide feedback in the moment, that teacher instantly gets better before creating any unproductive habits. Because each teacher is unique in what their strengths and weaknesses are, individualized coaching is required. Teachers never stop differentiating!
In order for a teacher to get stronger instructionally, they need time behind-the-scenes to discuss their lesson and delivery with an expert teacher or coach. During the #educoach discussion last night, two coaches asked for specific resources to do just that. Since I use these resources daily, I promised I would share.
Coaching Cycle for Discussion
A coach must follow a coaching cycle to ensure they help teachers develop through live coaching, discussion, practice and reflection. Within the discussion phase, is a process (or mini cycle) that I follow for each teacher I coach to ensure I am providing consistent support- not to be confused with an individualized approach.
Click here to access the coaching cycle for a discussion with a teacher.
Teacher Reflection Questions
Once a teacher has been provided with in the moment coaching, followed by a discussion (as mentioned above), they practice a skill that their coach has identified needed work. Practicing this skill in front of a coach to gain additional feedback is absolutely necessary. This ensures, again, that they do not create unproductive habits. The last part of the cycle is reflection. Each part of the cycle is important in its own right, but reflection could potentially be the most powerful step that one should never skip.
Click here to access the teacher reflection questions to close out the coaching cycle.
These two resources help me develop teachers of all skill levels. How much effort a teacher puts in to the process of becoming stronger instructionally will determine the effectiveness of these resources and the impact they can have on students’ success in the classroom.
I hope teachers and instructional coaches find these resources helpful, as they have really allowed me to uncover underlying issues and provide teachers with actionable steps to become better immediately.
What resources can you share that will improve teachers instructionally for the benefit of their students?
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.