An instructional coach is chiefly responsible for bringing evidence-based practices into classrooms by working with teachers and other school leaders. The benefits of instructional coaching include development of instructional skills, self-reflection, changes in school culture, and collaboration.
Benefits of Instructional Coaches
- Teachers develop instructional skills. Working with a coach allows teachers to practice and learn new skills and then adjust them to work best in the classroom.
- Teachers have time to reflect. Self-reflection is important for every educator. Teachers work with coaches to identify areas of strength on which to build and areas of improvement on which to work on and grow.
- Teachers can help change school culture. Coaching goes way beyond the teacher/coach relationship and evolves into meaningful positive change for the entire school.
- Teachers have more opportunities to collaborate. Coaches stress the importance of professional growth opportunities including collaboration and building of successful relationships amongst educational peers.
Resources for Educators: Instructional Coaching
At PLS, we have several resources for you about instructional coaching. What follows are two FREE podcasts from Steve Barkley and a related course that you can take online through PLS this coming fall.
Podcast: Instructional Coaching
Recently, Steve Barkley recorded several conversations with instructional coaches to explore the vast array of approaches that schools and districts have taken to provide coaching support to teachers on his podcast Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud. In both Part 1 and 2 of this podcast, Steve asks coaches to share experience, insight and suggestions on programs expectations and real outcomes.
- Listen to Part 1 featuring Instructional Coaches Heather Paden and Jessica O’Gorman.
- Listen to Part 2 featuring Instructional Coaches and PLS Instructors, Nicole Zakrewsky, Laura Mackenthun and Jim Jones.
We hope you find these conversations insightful and fascinating! Please share your ideas with us by commenting below. And if you’d like to learn more about Instructional Coaching as a whole, please check out our related online course this fall:
Online Course: Instructional Coaching
Begins Fall 2019
Participating Universities: Drake University, Wilkes University, and Mercyhurst University
This course focuses on the coach’s role in classroom management, content enhancement, instruction, asking effective questions, and assessment for learning. Participants will also explore the fundamentals for sustaining a successful coaching program including how to represent the coach’s role to staff, building trusting relationships, participating in ongoing training, garnering support from administrators, and providing confidential, non-evaluative job-embedded professional development for teachers. Find out more, or enroll today.