Whether you\u2019re new to the classroom or looking to take your skills to the next level, teachers greatly benefit from consistent, professional coaching. Having a 1:1 teacher-coach relationship helps teachers learn new skills, set and reach goals and be fully prepared for lessons ahead. It also ensures teachers have support to troubleshoot areas of concern and build their ability to analyze student data so the class stays on track and struggling students are supported.<\/p>\n
As a non-profit charter network heavily focused on professional development, we generally recommend coaches observe and provide written feedback, deliver in-the-moment feedback (i.e. speaking into an earpiece the teacher wears during instruction), model instruction, and engage in co-observations with the teacher by watching videos or observing an exemplar teacher. We\u2019ve also found it\u2019s important to carve out ample time for weekly professional development, which is why we recommend coaches provide at least four hours of support each week to each teacher. For comprehensive support, teachers can be observed at least twice a week, receive at least two hours of professional development per week and have a weekly one-on-one meeting with their coaches to help unleash their potential so their students can reach their own.<\/p>\n
Amidst our coaching, we\u2019ve found the following are critical for a successful teacher-coach relationship and hope they help you become a strong school leader.<\/p>\n
1. Build trust and strong relationships with each other.<\/strong> 2. Host 1:1 meetings each week.<\/strong> 3. Collaboratively prepare for units in advance.<\/strong> We recommend coaches and teachers meet for about 90 minutes two weeks in advance of a new unit to collaboratively create a strategy. This time ensures teachers and coaches are prepared with a deep understanding of the unit\u2019s content and are equipped with strategies to teach conceptually. They\u2019ll also form a mutual understanding of the bar set by the unit assessment, what students will need to be successful, and what the bottom lines of the lessons are. Together, they\u2019ll also plan for modifications that may be required to meet the strengths and needs of their students.<\/p>\n
\nBefore you begin coaching, get to know your teachers as people. What drew them to education and this particular school? What inspires them? What they\u2019re nervous about? Take time during each session to build your relationship authentically, so you understand how to best support them when challenging times arise.<\/p>\n
\nThis regular cadence gives coaches the opportunity to troubleshoot any issues that surface in the classroom, role play lessons for the upcoming week, and review how the teacher is growing and meeting their goals. This is also a great space to set new goals. You may want to find additional time to accomplish these goals aside from your 1:1.<\/p>\n
\nDesigned curriculums help educators build foundational skills by focusing on how to effectively deliver lessons and manage a classroom with an educational strategy that\u2019s proven to help students excel. As a coach, you\u2019ll provide your teachers with unit plans, scope and sequences, and daily exemplar lesson plans so they can see what success looks like. However, there\u2019s still plenty of work to be done by the teacher on their own.<\/p>\n