I can tell that you have been thinking quite a bit about coaching roles, models, and key ideas to make you an effective coach. Thanks also for making the connections to your practice.
This coming week you will be reading B 7 and WSQ 3. This two chapters will be more focused on the How To of the coaching work, including describing the coaching cycle as well as how to do observations, how to give feedback, and how coaching is different from supervision. Before you read, how do YOU think coaching is different from supervision? What do you hope to learn about the nuts and bolts of how to be a coach?
As you read, pay attention to specifics of what a coach does with a teacher, and how a coach gives feedback after an observation. Think also of how to lead a reflection, the types of questions you are posing, and formats for scaffolding a teacher after a lesson observation or as a teacher prepares to make change in her classroom. I'd suggest that you all practice in the blog posts giving feedback as described in Activity #2 at the end of the Bean chapter. There are two scenarios, so give it a try and give each other feedback or suggestions on what to say.
As I write this entry, only 3 people have completed the Virtual Check In. Please complete it by Sunday if you want credit for participation points. I know everyone is busy but this is how I can make sure everyone is on track and provide help as needed.
Have a good weekend and a good week. I'll post the blog for Week 10 next Friday, but I know everyone will be having some much needed rest over spring break. Check the revised schedule posted in the notes from the February face to face meeting about what is due--you need to have a small group online meeting to share the beginnings of your PD program with each other. Please let me know when that is occurring, and send me a summary of the discussion. There was a question on if you had to follow the format of the examples of the PD program that I posted. The answer is NO, you don't. Those are just 2 ways to organize the program out of many possible ones. You pick one that will work for you.
Happy Daylight Savings over the weekend!
When I consider supervision and coaching, I definitely think there is a big difference in role. A supervisor would be a superior of some sort that would hold some form of power or control over the person being supervised. A coach on the other hand is a peer, an equal, and has no power or control over the person being coached. In addition, I think the way goals would come about would be very different. A supervisor would set the goals for the person being supervised, while a coach would work alongside the person being coached in order to set goals that are personal to their teaching practice needs.
ReplyDeleteI am excited about these readings. I am ready to get started on my coaching and there is a lot that I think I need to learn first. I hope to learn more about what a coaching cycle consists of and how to determine many cycles should take place. I also hope to learn more about how to go about observing and giving feedback in constructive, guiding ways.
Also, our group plans to meet on Canvas Monday at 8:30pm.
One main difference between coaching and supervising I learned from last week’s readings is that coaches should be viewed as peers with teachers. Principals and administrators should be in the supervisory role in regards to teachers. Coaches should be seen as knowledgeable resources, supporters, and keepers of teachers’ confidence, and they should never be seen as evaluators or “reporters” to administration.
ReplyDeleteI am very excited to read about the nuts and bolts of coaching. As I have been working with a new teacher, I have realized that I am good intentioned in regards to coaching, but I do not always know if I am helping her in the most effective ways. I hope to learn about the coaching cycle and the best ways to conduct observations. I also would be interested in how you determine which teachers need coaching. Is it just teachers who want to be coached? Do administrators recommend some teacher spend time with the coach? Do all first year teachers meet with the coach? The idea of coaching is very intriguing, and I am ready to learn how coaching practically works.
I see coaching as lending a helping hand, assisting with strategies and instruction, and "upping the game" of classroom teachers. I see supervision as a step above coaching. Supervision is more of a monitor, making sure that teachers are doing their jobs and overseeing building issues. Whereas supervision CAN help with lessons and instruction, it is not a good idea for coaches to be seen as "supervision."
ReplyDeleteI want to know more about coaching. How do I help teachers who may not think they need help and what are the best ways I can scaffold teachers who recognize a need for growth? I'm excited to start this part of our semester.
I think coach is more of a collaborative support model whereas with supervision there seems to be more focus on evaluating one’s effectiveness to make sure he/she is meeting the expectations. I would think if someone is not meeting the expectations, that the supervisor would put them on some sort of plan of improvement in hopes that progress would be made. A coach is not someone that is there to evaluate as a supervisor would.
ReplyDeleteI am super excited to learn about the coaching cycle. I am especially looking forward to learning how to give someone feedback and lead reflection discussions. I’ve learned that doing these two things with my student teachers can be quite tricky in regards to how you approach those types of discussions.
I feel that supervision is observing to determine if a task or behavior is being implemented correctly; that a person is doing what they are assigned to do and evaluating their performance. Feedback is usually given when the supervisor notices that a behavior or task needs to be adjusted but is not given if done correctly. Supervision does not imply having a collaborative relationship in order to support the one being supervised. It does imply observing in order to report to administration what is happening.
ReplyDeleteCoaching is a collaborative, confidential effort between a coach and a teacher in which the coach serves as a resource and support system to help the teacher reach a predetermined goal leading towards student learning. Based on what is observed, coaches provide ongoing professional learning by modeling, suggesting or holding pd or book studies, or giving an article or book to read. Coaches collaborate with teachers in an area of improvement or enrichment for a teacher who would like to learn about something new. The coach is not simply observing, but serves as a guide and offers constant feedback, during and after observation, to help a teacher become more proficient.
Last week’s readings focused on what the responsibilities are of coaching. This week I hope to learn specific steps on how to carry out those responsibilities and how to be prepared for the diversity of the job. In a perfect world following graduation, I would immediately be offered a coaching job in an elementary setting. However, what if the only job I find is in a secondary setting? I would like to know how to be prepared for coaching in either setting. I want to learn the specifics of a coaching cycle and how to give appropriate, positive feedback during reflections. The authors so far have offered commentary from their experiences and excellent examples of teachers handling situations. I hope to continue to see this in the readings so I may learn what experienced coaches do.
I feel that there are many differences between a supervisor and coach. When I think of the word supervisor, I immediately think of a "boss" or person in a superior role than I am in. A supervisor is someone who gives you an evaluation of some kind, whereas a coach is there to observe a specific strategy or task and give you constructive feedback. Supervisors also give feedback, but after the fact. Coaches give you feedback and help you find ways to implement and use the feedback. Coaches serve as a confidential support system. They are there to help guide you and work alongside you when necessary.
ReplyDeleteThis week I hope to learn more about the specifics of coaching. In the previous chapters, we got to see what a coach should do and how they should interact with colleagues, but I want to know what it looks like in an elementary setting and a secondary setting. One aspect of coaching that seems most daunting to me is the idea of providing feedback. Whenever I observe someone else, I don't want them to think I am critiquing them or judging them. I want to learn how to give constructive feedback that other teachers can find helpful and useful.
I see the role of the coach more as one of supporter and collaborator; someone who stands along side teachers in effort to address areas of need and help discover and nurture effective practices within the classroom. When I think of a supervisor, the role would include evaluations of teaching practices effectiveness. There is very little in the way of collaboration or guidance, but more to do with adjusting teaching practices and assuring goals and expectations are being met.
ReplyDeleteI am excited to begin the coaching practice. I hope to gain insight in how to lead teachers without them feeling pushed. I really want this experience to be an incredibly positive opportunity to collaborate with a teacher who is looking for some effective ideas to meet the needs of her students. I am excited to look at her student population, and together, gather some creative strategies to reach her little ones.
When I compare the roles of a coach and a supervisor, I perceive a coach to be an approachable collaborator that shares insights, gives feedback for instruction, and shares an equal level of status. Whereas a supervisor is on a higher hierarchical tier, provides expectations to meet, and evaluates for effectiveness.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to learning effective strategies and approached towards being a supportive coach to my colleagues. I am quite nervous about the initial feelings and emotions my colleagues will feel when I ask to observe their literacy lessons. I don't want them to feel intimidated for think that I'm questioning their instructional abilities. However I'm excited to help them realize that coaches are different from supervisors and that I will be observing and giving feedback to support and enhance their practices.
I think that compared to a supervisor, a coach is someone more approachable and more willing to collaborate rather than dictate. A coach will share information, give constructive feedback, and provide suggestions to peers. Whereas when I think of a supervisor, they are typically not "peers" per se but instead someone who is above them in rank. Supervisors provide expectations and completes performance evaluations.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to learning more about the "meat" of coaching and learning how to effectively work with teachers. If working as a coach, I want to be able to be approachable as well as respected for my knowledge and expertise on literacy; I know this will be a challenge but I know it's possible.
When thinking about coaching vs. supervising, coaching is something that happens as a mean to improve teaching practices. Supervising is something that is done to determine if teaching is being done and to what extent it is happening. Coaching needs to be done by someone who is seen as a peer and not a supervisor. Coaching is formed on a relationship of trust and knowing that any feedback and guidance will be done from a constructive standpoint. From personal experience, even with a solid relationship with your supervisor, it is very difficult to have that coaching relationship. In our work with LSI, my principal was assigned to be my coach that would help me implement the teaching practices we are working on. We have a lot of respect for one another but it was very difficult to separate the roles of supervisor and coach. I often felt that her coaching sessions were more evaluative and she often lost sight of the set goals and coaching points.
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to gaining a more in depth understand of the "how to's" of coaching. In particular, how to give feedback. I know that this can really make or break a teacher's willingness and desire to work with a coach. I want to have a solid understanding of how to provide feedback in a way that teachers will see me as supportive and approachable.