It can be stressful for
teachers if instructional coaches only have high-level supports.
Offering different options
means that every educator can find something they feel comfortable using and
best suits their style.
When coaches provide some
supports that are a little bit less intimidating and give teachers small wins,
they are more likely to come back for the big ones.
On this episode of the Coaching Podcast, we look at three levels of support that coaches can provide and how to
use them to build a coaching menu.
These are three different
tiers of supports I offer my teachers.
Level One Support
Level one is your entry-level support. These options
let teachers know that they can ask for help without it being big and scary.
They help build relationships with teachers who don’t
trust you yet. These supports allow teachers to see the value of working with
you.
It's not just about helping out but about providing them support that will impact their instruction. Some things you can offer teachers at this level are serving as a sounding board, a check-in, and offering resource recommendations.
Level Two Support
The second level of support is more complex than we
see in level one.
At this level, things take place outside of the
teacher's classroom. It could be in a PLC room or somewhere similar.
Planning support is a level two option. It’s often
built into the schedule and will look different depending on the teacher's
needs. If you want to learn more about planning collaboratively, tune in to Episode 7 of
The Coaching Podcast.
Data review involves looking at data and creating the
next steps that help the teacher apply something in their classroom. This level
two choice can lead to planning support as well.
To learn more about using data to create an
instructional support plan, you can listen to Episode 8 of
The Coaching Podcast. It includes a free tool you can download.
Additional level two supports include visiting a
colleague, reviewing student work, and professional development.
Level Three Support
Level three is focused on the coaching cycle. It’s the
main support you want to provide to teachers because it has the most impact.
You have a pre-conference, some form of classroom work, and a post-conference. Episode 3 of Buzzing with Ms. B: The Coaching Podcast explains the entire coaching cycle in six easy steps.
Here’s how you can provide level three support.
Model a Lesson
Modeling is when an instructional coach goes into the
classroom and shows a teacher what a specific lesson could look like. Ideally,
you want to plan that together to make sure everybody knows the goal and how it
will go.
Observation
With this support, you are watching the teacher
conduct a lesson in their classroom and giving them feedback after it. This
support is good to offer when a teacher tells you they have not gotten the desired
response from their students and want help.
Co-Teaching
This type of support is valuable but requires careful
planning to be successful. Since you’re teaching together, you have to be
specific about who does what during the lesson.
Episode 6 of The Coaching Podcast is all about teaching with a partner and can help you plan a co-teaching experience.
Instructional Coaching Menu
Instructional coaches organize their coaching menu in
different ways, including listing the levels of support. I prefer putting a
bunch of options and letting teachers choose without a visible hierarchy.
It’s helpful to introduce teachers to your menu of support
during a presentation when school starts and several times throughout the year.
You want educators to know what you offer and how they can benefit from your
coaching support.
When you sign up below, you'll get a FREE copy of the
coaching menu I use with my teachers. It can be used as-is or you can use it as
a starting point to design your own.
My Instructional
Coaching Forms and Slide Show for the Coaching-Cycle has an
editable version of the coaching menu, plus a presentation to introduce your
different supports. It includes all the tools you need for coaching cycles,
whether you're co-teaching, modeling, or observing.
To learn more about providing each level of supports
and how you can introduce them listen to the entire episode.
Ready to listen? You can listen below with
the media player, or search for Buzzing with MS. B: The Coaching Podcast
anywhere you listen to podcasts!
Check me out at buzzingwithmsb.com and on Instagram @buzzingwithmsb.
Podcast produced by Fernie Ceniceros of Crowd & Town Creative
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