What is
Instructional Coaching?
Instructional coaches collaborate with teachers to get a clear picture of current reality, identify goals, pick teaching strategies to meet the goals, monitor progress and problem-solve until the goals are met.
What the Research Says:
Hattie Effect Sizes: Teacher Education, Micro-Teaching/Video Review of Lessons - 0.88, Collective Teacher Efficacy - 1.57 (any rating above a 0.4 is effective)
According to Joyce and Showers (2002) 95% of what teachers learn through in-class coaching transfers into their classroom, while there is 0% transfer from study of theory and demonstrations, and only 5% from practice alone.
What's the Point?
The purpose of coaching is to foster improvement.
Instructional coaches partner with teachers to help them improve teaching and learning so students become more successful.
When we choose to learn and get better, we open ourselves to greater success, deeper feelings of competence, and more vitality and growth.
How is it Used by Teachers?
Instructional coaches position teachers as partners so coaching really is two teachers talking with each other.
Instructional coaches see teachers as professionals, which means they see teachers as the ultimate decision-makers about what and how they learn.
Teachers and coaches foster successful partnerships by utilizing equality, choice, voice, dialogue, and reflection.
Teachers do most of the thinking, and coaches and teachers work as equals with the goal of making a powerful, positive difference in children's lives.
What's on the Menu?
Starters
Not ready for the main course? Feel free to start with something on the lighter side:
Reach out for some fresh resources
Grab a thought partner and sample some ideas (brainstorm)
Can't decide? Let's pair up for some co-planning!
Mains
This is our meat and potatoes! Join us for:
A robust coaching cycle
A crunchy conversation around data
A classic, well-seasoned, focused observation
Or chop it up with a savory order of classroom support
Treats
Looking for something short and sweet to help out?
Relax with a nice reflection conversation
In the mood for some fun-fetti? Celebrations and next steps!
Publishing/Sharing new learning? We'll grab extra spoons!
So What is a Coaching Cycle???
COACHING CYCLES
Lasts 4-6 weeks
Identify
The Identify stage involves the teacher identifying an area of improvement that could both improve teaching and learning.
Learn
The Learn stage involves the coach dialoguing with the collaborating teacher about resources, materials, and ideas that could be useful.
Improve
The Improve stage involves the teacher implementing the identified teaching strategy and both the coach and teacher monitoring progress.