Getting Teachers on Board for Coaching
Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 11:16PM If you’re an Instructional Coach diving in to a new year, you may be wondering how to get started with your teachers. For years, professional developers from the Kansas University Center for Research on Learning have been opening the door to professional learning by conducting one-to-one interviews.
Leona Hunt is an elementary Reading First Instructional Coach in Florida who tried the interview process with her teachers. Here’s what she had to say about it:
“I promised to email you back after conducting the interviews…. I spent most of the year, last year, building trust with the staff. The interviews totally disarmed the teachers. I felt like I was truly able to see into their "hearts"…
The teachers communicated that they had felt very alone until last year. They expressed positive feelings, overall, about the Reading First initiative. They cited "support" as the most helpful issue about Reading First...NOT the money. I was shocked by that. Also, the teachers said they wanted staff dev. to be something that can be put into action "tomorrow." The most prevalent "need" was student ready activities and strategies. This theme repeated itself over and over in other categories, too…
They were grateful for the modeling I had done last year and asked me to continue this practice. Overall, I gained so much info. I feel like I am much more prepared to face the year...
One last thing...I was able to explain the coaching process, asking them how they are most comfortable receiving feedback. EVERYONE gave me the green light to work as a coach with her. They also were exposed to the truth that I want to walk beside and guide them, not report or "spy" on them. I loved meeting on an individual basis just for the personal touch, as well!”
If you’re interested in learning more about using interviews as part of the Instructional Coaching enrolment process, I’d be happy to send you a send you an article that describes how the whole process works. Just send me a quick message with a request for the paper, and I’ll send you an electronic copy.
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