Instructional coaches are often valued for their experience, instructional knowledge, and ability to support teacher growth. Yet one of the most important qualities a coach can bring to a coaching conversation is intellectual humility. Researchers define intellectual humility as recognizing that our beliefs, interpretations, and conclusions may be incomplete or even mistaken. It is the […]

“Decades of education research support the idea that by teaching less and providing more feedback, we can produce greater learning.” (Grant Wiggins) However, feedback doesn’t create learning by itself. Learning happens when students reflect on, act upon, and integrate feedback into their actions. That matches the message that I frequently share, “teachers don’t cause student […]

Thinking Partner is a term that I have been using in describing the conversations that I work to have emerge with coachees, especially in post observation conversations. Reading Dr. Kristine Needham’s post, 3 Ways to More “Aha” Moments in Coaching, I found several connections to the concept of thinking partner. Needham describes these coaching conferences […]

Differentiating Peer Observation and Peer Coaching: Peer Observation is an activity that is focused on the observer’s learning while Peer Coaching is focused more on the benefits to the observed teacher. Of course, there are some benefits to both in either activity but the clarity of expectations going into and throughout the activity can increase […]

I had a request to assist a team of teacher leaders who had accepted the task of providing an introduction of peer coaching to teachers who are new to their faculty. These leaders have been in workshops with me during the past two years and have been taking part in peer coaching activities with members […]

The alignment of an instructional coach’s and principal’s messages to staff is important in maintaining teacher actions what will drive increased student learning. Both principal and coach must make constant decisions and responses to staff during busy school days throughout the year. Rich conversations assist principal and coach in knowing their thinking is based on […]