Hi, my name is Ashley, and today's lesson is titled Instructional Coaching Benefits and Best Practices.
In today's lesson, we'll look at the impact and the benefits of instructional coaching. We'll also look at the best practices for instructional coaching.
What are the impacts and benefits of instructional coaching? Current research supports instructional coaching and clinical knowledge of leadership as professional communities of practice. Research also indicates that instructional coaching improves many areas.
With instructional skill development, coaching provides opportunities for improvement. When teachers work with coaches, they are more likely to use what they learn and apply it to their instruction more consistently. These opportunities also help teachers improve their instructional approach, rather than using direct instruction.
Reflection is another benefit of instructional coaching. It improves the teacher's ability to reflect on their teaching practices.
Coaching not only impacts instruction, but the school culture, as well. If the coaching program is effective, it can impact the culture of the school while supporting change within the school. Coaching provides opportunities for collaboration and benefits everyone involved.
Coaching emphasizes professional growth as it supports relationships between educators. Ideas, successes, and failures are shared among the members of the teaching community. Teachers working and sharing together allows them to support each other in determining the best instructional approaches. This collaborative nature also reduces the feeling of isolation when educators are working together and supporting one another.
What are the best practices for instructional coaching? When approaching instructional coaching, remember it should be school and job related. It should improve teachers' theoretical knowledge. The content should be adult-centered, and learning should be based on data.
Coaching should occur and professional learning environment that is centered on the school. Effective coaches allow teachers to have choice, allowing teachers to decide themselves what skills they would like to work on. When it comes to best practices for instructional coaching, feedback is used to discuss strategies and methods that can be applied to the teacher's classroom.
Adult learning theories are emphasized and teachers are encouraged to learn how they learn best. Coaches should also provide constructive and accurate feedback, giving teachers details on what they did well and what they need to work on.
Lastly, feedback should be specific, descriptive, timely, and non-evaluative. Feedback should be clear, unopinionated, and given in a timely manner, and not attached to a score or a rating.
As a best practice, the relationship between the coach and the teacher should be collaborative and respectful. This relationship requires honesty. In order for the instructional coaching relationship to thrive, there must be open, honest, and professional communication taking place between the coach and the teacher. This helps with improving instruction.
And lastly, trust is a best practice when implementing instructional coaching. Research shows that teachers in the K-12 setting agree that trust is essential for a successful coaching relationship. Providing open and honest feedback helps to build a trusting relationship between the coach and the teacher. The teacher should feel comfortable sharing with the coach his or her successes and failures.
The collaboration between colleagues that we spoke of before supports a trusting relationship. And since coaching is non-evaluative, teachers and coaches develop a trust, knowing there is no concern of being judged or rated.
Let's recap what we have discussed in today's lesson. There are many impacts and benefits of instructional coaching. It improves instructional skill development, reflection, and impacts cultural change. It also encourages collaboration among colleagues.
Some of the best practices for instructional coaching is to provide constructive feedback, have an adult-centered approach, and have open, honest, and professional communication between the coach and the teacher.
As we bring this lesson to a close, consider the benefits and best practices of instructional coaching. For more information on how to apply what you learned in this video, please view the additional resources section that accompanies this video presentation. The additional resources section includes hyperlinks useful for applications of the course material, including a brief description of each resource.
Overview
(00:00 - 00:13) Introduction
(00:14 - 00:27) What Will You Learn Today?
(00:28 - 02:03) What are the Impacts and Benefits of Instructional Coaching?
(02:04 - 04:21) What are the Best Practices in Instructional Coaching?
(04:22 - 04:56) What Did You Learn Today?
(04:57 - 05:24) Reflection
Critical Friends: The Benefits of Instructional Coaches
This Education Week article reviews the importance of building trust and collaboration in instructional coaching.
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/finding_common_ground/2013/03/critical_friends_the_benefits_of_instructional_coaches.html
Instructional Coaching: Plan, Observe, Reflect
This Teaching Channel video outlines the benefits of instructional coaching for teachers.
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/instructional-coaching-nvps