MTC Blog: Coaching

1. Describe Yourself as an Instructional Coach

As a coach,  I like to look for little mistakes that may escape detection but will become important later on.  For instance: when teachers do not verbally specify their plans for the day or their expectations of the students.  That is something I think is important, and I try to reinforce it in my coaching.  The students must always be told exactly what is expected of them, and what they need to do.

2. What aspect of coaching has been most difficult?

The physical exertion.  Honestly, I have no idea. I can't say that coaching has flummoxed me.  Perhaps what's difficult is that I don't know if i'm giving good or bad advice.

3. Describe how your coaching techniques have developed.

Um, I've only been "coaching" for 2 weeks.  That's not a lot of developmental time.  If anything, I've learned to be harsher with Parks than with Hayley and Jen.  Parks needs to hear how bad he is; Hayley and Jen are awesome teachers.

4. How has coaching impacted my own teaching?

Well, the things I "coach" are the things I've found myself emphasizing in my lessons: clear delineation of plans and expectations, firm discipline, confident command of the classroom.  I don't know if it's coming across, but I'm trying at any rate to emphasize them.