Instructional Coaching by Brielle Felts

Coaching Characteristics

bfelts — 2024-04-03 04:42:32 UTC

Booker and Russell (2022) provide a framework for instructional coaching practices, including qualities of an effective coach. These qualities include being skilled teachers, having the ability to form relationships, having communication skills, and knowledge of technology. Additionally, this framework provides suggestions for activities, durations and timelines, improvement cycles, and professional development for instructional coaching programs. This resource will be helpful for instructional coaches on a campus-level, as it not only serves as a guideline, is research based, and has additional resources embedded within the text.

Booker, L. & Russell, J. (2022, January). Improving teaching practice with instructional coaching (Design Principle Series). EdResearch for Recovery. https://annenberg.brown.edu/sites/default/files/EdResearch_for_Recovery_Design_Principles_3.pdf

Communication Techniques

bfelts — 2024-04-04 18:46:13 UTC

In the video, Barkley (2018) shares communication skills and strategies for successful instructional coach and teacher relationships based on his experience. He focuses the need for positivity and interest within dialogue between coaches and teachers. To communicate interest, a coach may listen and form open-ended critical thinking questions based on what they've heard. Strategies to encourage positivity include intentional seating arrangements, providing affirmations that "feed forward" instead "feed backward", and displaying a growth mindset toward the teacher's goals. In Barkley's (2018) supporting blog post, he presents additional aspects of effective communication for coaches through the purpose of open-ended questions, direct communication, and active listening. Within each of these areas, there are additional resources provided for further research and development. This is a useful resource for instructional coaches who are seeking communication tips prior to coaching sessions.

Barkley, S. (2018, December 9). Effective communication techniques increase the impact of instructional coaching [Blog]. Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud. https://barkleypd.com/blog/effective-communication-techniques/

Goal-Focused Conversations

bfelts — 2024-04-15 02:52:41 UTC

In this article, Sepe (n.d.) discusses the importance of not just having good conversations with teachers as a coach, but leaving sessions with a clear goal in place. He shares some of his own experiences with not being intentional in curating conversations around goal-setting and shares that he uses the PEERS framework. This is a simple and quick resource for instructional coaches to use during their sessions or conversations, as simply checking off the boxes ensures you are being productive without distracting from the conversation. PEERS specifies that goals should be powerful, easy, emotionally compelling, reachable, and student-focused.

Sepe, B. (n.d.). Goals are greater than nice conversations [Article]. Choice Literacy. https://choiceliteracy.com/article/goals-are-greater-than-nice-conversations/

The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Steiner

bfelts — 2024-04-17 21:44:53 UTC

A resource shared by @Candice that I'm interested in! I am adding this here for when I am ready to purchase, or in case anyone else is interested in learning more about the book.

Say This, Not That

bfelts — 2024-04-22 05:00:50 UTC

Buzzing with Ms. B has so many resources for ICs and teachers! She has a blog, podcast, downloadable/printable pages, and more that can help an IC through their coaching journey and teachers through the coaching process. In this particular blog post, she focuses on how to positively and effectively communicate with teachers during an observation cycle. The post provides tips on what to say prior, during, and post observation to uphold the positive coach-teacher relationship while providing effective feedback.

Beltran, C. (n.d.). The coaching cycle: Say this, not that: Growing as an instructional coach [Blog]. Buzzing with Ms. B. https://buzzingwithmsb.com/2018/08/the-coaching-cycle-say-this-not-that.html

Embracing Influential Leadership

bfelts — 2024-04-24 05:15:22 UTC

In this podcast (with notes), Cofino (2023) emphasizes the meaning of being a leader and provides examples of the various ways to be one. She highlights how even in leadership roles, there must be a relationship present to have successful coaching. Throughout the podcast, Cofino points out the difficulties of taking on the leadership roles as an instructional coach, but provides motivation, encouragement, and advice on how to embrace the responsibility of being a leader. This podcast stems from a series of others from Eduro Learning and there are also several short YouTube videos to accompany the many areas of instructional coaching.

Cofino, K. (2023, February 1). Embracing your influential leadership as an instructional coach. Coach Better. https://coachbetter.tv/embracing-your-influential-leadership-as-an-instructional-coach/

A Closer Look At The Coach's Role

bfelts — 2024-05-01 21:51:07 UTC

Jim Knight (2021) provides detail about how Instructional Coaches support teachers by comparing and contrasting ICs to sports coaches. He then dives into 5 maxims for ICs to follow which are:

1. A coach is a teacher talking with a teacher.

2. Learning involves seeing reality as it is, not as we wish it to be.

3. If there’s no goal, it’s just a nice conversation.

4. It’s not about me

5. Real learning happens in real life.

Knight (2021) emphasizes the need for an equal partnership in the coach-teacher relationship, for both parties. A teacher needs to be able to count on their coach, but on the other hand, if a teacher becomes too dependent on their coach they will not be deeply learning.

Knight, J. (2021, September 1). The learning zone / Hey instructional coach, what do you do? Professional Learning, 79 (1). https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/the-learning-zone-hey-instructional-coach-what-do-you-do

The Importance of ICs

bfelts — 2024-05-07 14:02:17 UTC

Great Leadership Starts With Self-Leadership

bfelts — 2024-05-07 14:11:45 UTC

Lars Sudman expands on self-leadership qualities and characteristics, and how possessing these can make one an overall better leader.

Borrowed from @Brittany Evans

bfelts — 2024-05-08 14:03:20 UTC