Take a breath and make a list!
As a coach, take a minute to refresh your memory about the
school’s goals for school wide improvement. I’m sure changes have been made to
last year’s goals… maybe the goals have been enhanced; maybe the goals have
been changed; maybe there are new goals to meet the needs of all students.
However the goals were determined and shared with staff, take a moment to
reflect on the goals and what you need to do in preparation for working with
teachers so they support them.
Build on the strengths of each previous year and remember to
honor the teachers’ voices. You are not the expert; you are creating a culture
where collaboration is the norm and collective problem-solving is the theme for
the year. Every teacher has something valuable to contribute to the
conversation; bring your teaching colleagues together so that the learning is
shared, questioning is encouraged, and practice is discussed – all without
risk!
Coaches visit, not observe. Leave that to the
administrators. Focus on creating a place where you model positive and valuable
relationships, understanding that instructional coaching is not a cookie cutter
model… not everyone is ready at the same
time for the same amount or level of instructional coaching support. You need
to take time and assess what the teachers need which generates what you need to
prepare for a productive school year.
How do you reflect
“on, in, and about” your coaching role in preparation for working with your
teaching colleagues?
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