As we discussed in class, the purpose of my blog has now changed from helping you think about what you read and connect to your own practice, to helping to focus your reading and blogging. The purpose of this week is to really begin to think about the coaching cycle and the meaning of coaching. You are reviewing WSQ 3, reading an in depth view of the coaching cycle in EP&L, and reading 2 articles on the principles for coaching and how coaching is related to professional development.
Before you begin to read, Think about your own strengths as a potential coach. What do you think they are? Who are you planning to approach to work with as a coach?
I'd suggest reading in this order: guiding principles article, WSQ 3 review, EP&L strategy, and team coaching.
Blog about how you think the ideas in the readings are related to each other and to our class discussion. What are the 2 most important ideas about coaching that you learned? How do you think team and individual coaching are similar and different?
I believe one of my strengths is my ability to communicate effectively with others. I like to think of myself as a good listener, one who actually listens to the speaker before answer, I make sure to actively listening before providing any feedback. I also think that one of my strengths is that when I do decide to make the transition from classroom teacher to literacy coach, is that I do understand the expectations, time constraints, and other pressures that educators are facing, which I hope will help teachers feel like I am approachable.
ReplyDeleteI would really like to coach a student teacher who has been currently placed at our school. She is currently in a Kindergarten classroom, and then will be moving to a first grade classroom. I feel like because she is a student teacher, there is a lot of potential to pinpoint an area of need to focus on. However, if she is unable to do it, I will ask one of my teammates. She has been teaching for a while, but she is very open to improving and trying new things. I am definitely looking forward to the coaching, so I can begin to feel more confident in this area.
I think one of my strengths is organization. I'm pretty meticulous when it comes to being organized before I begin a task. If an idea hasn't been organized in my head, it's very difficult for me to proceed with the physical task of putting it together. Therefore I work until it makes sense. I'm thinking about when I eventually become a literacy coach, I want to have a plan or idea organized with steps of implementation before I begin. I think this would benefit a school in the sense that I will be someone who sees the big picture and leads others in taking baby steps to implement the process. I also am very positive. I don't mind if people complain, but if they complain to me, they know they need to begin thinking about solutions. I know as a coach, I would listen to people's problems, but would also begin organizing a plan to help them.
ReplyDeleteI am going to coach the girl who took my job when I quit. She is a pre-k teachers. She is a graduate student also, but has a bachelors in communication. She is beginning her 3rd year. She was very receptive to the idea of coaching when I asked her.
I think one of my strengths is having experience in the classroom. I know that there are realistic expectations and idealistic expectations that can be met. Not to say that what may be idealistic can't be met with a little extra work. With my experience in the classroom I know that sometimes it is hard to ask for help when you need it. Also, I think that I'm very good about being available and flexible. I am organized enough to in order to shift priorities around.
ReplyDeleteI am going to coach a first grade teacher at my school. It is her second year teaching. During her first year teaching she was not assigned a mentor teacher so she did not have that guidance.
Imagining myself as a coach, I can see that my greatest strength would be my communication skills. I see myself as a thoughtful listener and an encourager, so I wouldn't find it difficult to make suggestions and offer advice.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to coach a good friend of mine with whom I graduated from OBU. She teaches kindergarten currently and is looking for ways to help her students make connections with literature and better comprehend the texts.
In terms of my strengths as a potential coach, I think I tend to be pretty good about being goal-oriented, so I think that will help both me and those I coach. I also feel like I will be fairly good at guiding others' self-reflection, based on what is already my teaching style.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to approach a young woman at my school who is a co-teacher for 5 classes and is currently working to get certified to teach 1 SPED lab English class. This is her first year teaching, and she's been fairly nervous so far, especially now that they've asked her to get certified to teach a lab class. I think she would be a good person to work with, and I also think she would be eager to get something out of the experience.
I think my strengths as a coach would be my ability to listen and my experience in the classroom. I am always sharing strategies that work for me, and I love hearing that someone else benefited from them as well. I think my ability to listen and encourage will help people trust that I can help them without feeling like I'm forcing them to do something differently.
ReplyDeleteI am planning on coaching a good friend of mine who is also my co-teacher. She also has two skills classes, and we typically talk with each other about strategies she can use in that class, so I think we can both benefit from this situation.
I think that my strengths would be my knowledge of different strategies, my humorous ways, and my classroom management experiences. I also enjoy listening to others and helping them, with my own friends I am usually the person they come to for advice. I have also been making an effort so far this year to try and connect to more of my fellow teachers, especially all our new teachers.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about asking either one of our new teachers, Allison, or helping our new Resource teacher with her last hour which seems to be horrible and exhausting. It is also co-taught, but she seems to be having a problem motivating her students. I might also ask my administrator if she has anyone in mind or anyone that had come to her asking for help. Tomorrow I meet with both my English teams and will bring it up.
I think my strengths as a coach are my ability to develop positive relationships with others, and giving feedback constructively. I also feel that having taught in the classroom will give me insight as a coach.
ReplyDeleteI'm asking a young teacher at my school who teaches preschool. She's a generally positive young lady and I have a good relationship with her. She spends a lot of time on her lesson plans and group time with her students.