The #educoach hashtag is used by instructional coaches around the world. We chat each Wednesday at 8pm CST on Twitter and use the hashtag throughout the week to share resources, ask questions and collaborate with instructional coaches.
I'm Kathy - one of the co-moderators for tonight's chat. I'm joined by @IAteacherNan My success comes Friday as we do a #CoachApproach Institute in the Chicago area! #educoach
Hi everyone! My name is Lauren and I’m an Instructional Coach in SoCal. My win for the week is that my boss encouraged me to speak at a conference #educoach
Hi #educoach friends! It’s Pete here, joining from humid and lovely Alabama, where I spent the past two days with the @DeKalbSchools admin team at their retreat in Guntersville:
Hello! Kimberly here from Houston, Texas. I was able to join some of my twice exceptional students at their summer school programming today! Great to see them in the middle of summer! #educoach
Hi!! Literacy Coach from the Mississippi Gulf Coast:) I am so excited because I shared our book with the coaches on my team, and they are ordering the book so we can do a book study!!! #educoach
Hi all! I am currently a primary teacher and a graduate student in Language, Literacy, and Culture at Coastal Carolina Univ. I have not read this book, however I hope to gain some insight tonight! I am currently reading The Literacy Coach's Handbook by S. Walpole #educoach
If you are new to #educoach we use a Q1 A1 format. Please make sure to include the hashtag in your tweets.
My internet connection isn't the best tonight. If I drop off, remember @IAteacherNan is here.
Q1 The authors state on p. 47 “We can all grow, learn, and improve throughout our careers. It starts by putting our minds to it.” What are ways you self-reflect? How do you put your mind into it? #educoach
A1 My most effective reflections are immediately preceded by conscious thoughts about my goals. What do I want to accomplish? What's most important to me? That's always the first step. #educoach
Tonight I needed to self-reflect by getting outside to some fresh air. I found a quiet place along the Chicago River Walk. The peacefulness helped put my mind into it. #educoach
I think we need to practice what we preach. If we expect our teachers to be reflective practitioners, than we need to practice being reflective ourselves. It is easiest for me to do this immediately after a coaching conversation. #Educoach
Q2 The authors state on p. 34 that “the Continuum of Self-Reflection is an indispensable tool for establishing a culture of reflective practice.” Share your initial thoughts of the 4 stages of Unaware, Conscious, Action & Refinement. #educoach
A1: We need to to move away from thinking that self-reflection can only happen in the forms of introspection and journaling. I like to talk things through and am not embarrassed to have a Voxer feed all to myself. #EduCoach#TalkItOut
Q1 The authors state on p. 47 “We can all grow, learn, and improve throughout our careers. It starts by putting our minds to it.” What are ways you self-reflect? How do you put your mind into it? #educoach
A1: As a T I did this ALL the time but I will admit as a Coach I have totally fallen off the band wagon this book has reminded me of the power of self reflection #educoach
Q1 The authors state on p. 47 “We can all grow, learn, and improve throughout our careers. It starts by putting our minds to it.” What are ways you self-reflect? How do you put your mind into it? #educoach
A1 #educoach I think it is very important to reflect after a coaching session. I am very fortunate to have a great coaching partner that will just listen while I am reflecting.
A1 Thoughout the instructional day, I feel like I am always reflecting on student learning. I also work with a great team and we are often reflecting on lessons at the end of the day. #educoach
Amber, I'm glad to hear the light bulb has been switched BACK on! If you can orient your coaching conversations to build your teachers' reflective tendencies, too, you'll find immense power in that practice! #educoach
A1: As a T I did this ALL the time but I will admit as a Coach I have totally fallen off the band wagon this book has reminded me of the power of self reflection #educoach
Q1 The authors state on p. 47 “We can all grow, learn, and improve throughout our careers. It starts by putting our minds to it.” What are ways you self-reflect? How do you put your mind into it? #educoach
A1 #educoach I think it is very important to reflect after a coaching session. I am very fortunate to have a great coaching partner that will just listen while I am reflecting.
A2: I can place myself at each of these stages through my own development as a teacher. We need different resources and supports depending on our mindsets and skill sets along the learning continuum. #EduCoach#personalizedPL
Q2 The authors state on p. 34 that “the Continuum of Self-Reflection is an indispensable tool for establishing a culture of reflective practice.” Share your initial thoughts of the 4 stages of Unaware, Conscious, Action & Refinement. #educoach
Q2 The authors state on p. 34 that “the Continuum of Self-Reflection is an indispensable tool for establishing a culture of reflective practice.” Share your initial thoughts of the 4 stages of Unaware, Conscious, Action & Refinement. #educoach
Both - I have a feed for my own thoughts, but then I also have collaborative feeds set up with mentors, thought partners, accountability partners, and professional learning groups. #EduCoach
A2 The Continuum of Self-Reflection is probably one the most powerful parts to me. I immediately recognized teachers by where they are with reflection. I know that this is going to be an incredible tool for supporting them this year. #educoach
A2 One of the keys to effective self-reflection is to ask yourself the right questions to generate the most helpful thoughts. The Continuum of Self-Reflection provides those prompts. #btcfs#educoach
Yes -- it's not a destination, but a continuum where you move from one stage to another, then back again depending on the situation you find yourself in. #educoach
Q3 There are varied ways for leaders to support the growth of their teachers for both the instructional coach and administrator. They are listed in the second column on p. 36-39. How flexible is your leadership repertoire? What do you need to consider? #educoach
A2: 1st, I LOVE the Continuum. As I read this I saw myself at each level throughout my career and was reminded that the teachers I work with are all on various levels. Thinking I must relate to where they are. #educoach
Q2. I find the continuums to be so well explained. I completely understand why each stage is named the way it is and the examples are detailed. I also like earlier in the book the discussion of never being rated on your reflection stage. #educoach
A2 (cont): One of the things that trips us up is the assumption that folks know how to reflect and will engage in meaningful reflection if we ask/tell them to. It's a skill that most definitely needs to be taught. Hence the coach's presence! #btcfs#educoach
A2 One of the keys to effective self-reflection is to ask yourself the right questions to generate the most helpful thoughts. The Continuum of Self-Reflection provides those prompts. #btcfs#educoach
It is a challenge as a coach, working with a veteran T who may still be in the Unaware stage. Comfort over stretching to grow! #educoach I need to remind myself to help Ts learn to reflect.
A2: I’m super intrigued! I want to learn more about the leadership rules. The PLC support seems helpful. I just love how specific everything is #educoach
Alina, I've spoken with the Continuum, and it loves you too. Unconditionally, no matter what stage you find yourself operating in at any given moment. :) #educoach
A2: 1st, I LOVE the Continuum. As I read this I saw myself at each level throughout my career and was reminded that the teachers I work with are all on various levels. Thinking I must relate to where they are. #educoach
A3: This chapter has been so powerful because I find at times I want to be the answer to all and I don’t know what to ASK from my admin as far as support for me so I can support Ts. This has opened my eyes for sure #educoach
Q3 There are varied ways for leaders to support the growth of their teachers for both the instructional coach and administrator. They are listed in the second column on p. 36-39. How flexible is your leadership repertoire? What do you need to consider? #educoach
A2: I’m super intrigued! I want to learn more about the leadership rules. The PLC support seems helpful. I just love how specific everything is #educoach
I will be switching schools this year & intend to begin the year observing teachers thorough these various levels. Should be interesting since I have no prior knowledge of these teachers. Starting fresh! #educoach
A2 This can't be stated enough - this is not an evaluation tool! It's a description of the way we reflect on our practice with some guidance for how to grow. There's nothing evaluative about it! Thanks for the reminder, Kim! #educoach
Q2. I find the continuums to be so well explained. I completely understand why each stage is named the way it is and the examples are detailed. I also like earlier in the book the discussion of never being rated on your reflection stage. #educoach
Q4 The authors mention 7 fundamental of a culture of reflective practice. The foundation of this is #1 Relationships, Roles and Responsibilities. What suggestions would you give a new coach or admin to assist in building relationships and developing roles and responsibilities?
A3: As coaches and administrators too often we are placed in situations where we need to "straddle the line." This clear delineation of roles keeps everyone in their lane and helps foster a stronger learning organization that moves and grows together. #EduCoach
Q3 There are varied ways for leaders to support the growth of their teachers for both the instructional coach and administrator. They are listed in the second column on p. 36-39. How flexible is your leadership repertoire? What do you need to consider? #educoach
A3 The roles of admin & coach are meant to be complementary, and they're based on addressing teachers' needs and readiness. It's differentiated professional support. #educoach
A3 I think I generally tried to lead that way as a coach based on their experience as a teacher. However, I think by switching my style based on how they reflect I can be more effective as a coach. #educoach
Q3. I definitely find myself more comfortable in the partner, strategist, listener, and collaborator coach style. I have room for growth in the mentor leadership role. #educoach
A3: Working under a new leader this year will be a great opportunity to incorporate the Capacity Building goals and the parts within. I kind of see it as a way to fit myself in to the processes that have already been established. #educoach
A4: I find that starting from the first day making time to SEE the teachers and to say something nice. I know as a T whenever people took the time to see me just to say great job when a long way. #educoach
Q4 The authors mention 7 fundamental of a culture of reflective practice. The foundation of this is #1 Relationships, Roles and Responsibilities. What suggestions would you give a new coach or admin to assist in building relationships and developing roles and responsibilities?
A3: I like that this Continuum would make the roles more clear and transparent. I find it difficult to work with admin sometimes when roles aren’t defined #educoach
I think many of us have been down that path as coaches. Focusing on reflective practice will be a change for me, too! Trying to figure out how to have subject area PD workshops that promote reflection, rather than me "telling" . . . #educoach
A3 I think I generally tried to lead that way as a coach based on their experience as a teacher. However, I think by switching my style based on how they reflect I can be more effective as a coach. #educoach
A3 I think I generally tried to lead that way as a coach based on their experience as a teacher. However, I think by switching my style based on how they reflect I can be more effective as a coach. #educoach
A4: Build relationships with your staff by getting to know their passions. What ignites them? What gets them out of bed? And conversely, what is most challenging for them? More often than not our work boils down to what we love and what we avoid. #EduCoach
Q4 The authors mention 7 fundamental of a culture of reflective practice. The foundation of this is #1 Relationships, Roles and Responsibilities. What suggestions would you give a new coach or admin to assist in building relationships and developing roles and responsibilities?
A3: I like that this Continuum would make the roles more clear and transparent. I find it difficult to work with admin sometimes when roles aren’t defined #educoach
Have I been introduced to the survey yet. I am on chapter 5. Need to go back and look at my notes. But I am sure if its included, then I will try to use it. #educoach
Q5 @alisasimeral mentioned this coaching mistake: Coaching is centered around initiatives instead of reflective practice through those initiatives in this recent post https://t.co/jld9xlt2in. What are ways we can avoid this. #educoach
A2 This can't be stated enough - this is not an evaluation tool! It's a description of the way we reflect on our practice with some guidance for how to grow. There's nothing evaluative about it! Thanks for the reminder, Kim! #educoach
Q2. I find the continuums to be so well explained. I completely understand why each stage is named the way it is and the examples are detailed. I also like earlier in the book the discussion of never being rated on your reflection stage. #educoach
A4. Within relationships, roles, and responsibilities is trust! The importance of trust cannot be understated in any teacher/coach or teacher/administrator relationship if we expect them to be honest about their classroom practices. #educoach
As a current teacher, I agree that when coaches or admin take time to stop by classrooms "just because" it helps to build relationships and building morale. #educoach
A4: I find that starting from the first day making time to SEE the teachers and to say something nice. I know as a T whenever people took the time to see me just to say great job when a long way. #educoach
Q4 The authors mention 7 fundamental of a culture of reflective practice. The foundation of this is #1 Relationships, Roles and Responsibilities. What suggestions would you give a new coach or admin to assist in building relationships and developing roles and responsibilities?
The best place to find the self-assessment is in chapter 3 of "Teach, Reflect, Learn." It's the TEACHER-version of this self-reflective capacity-building suite of texts. You can find it here: https://t.co/vvs9z5bk9M#educoach
Oh, my -- yes! Getting T's to open up about their classroom practices is based upon them feeling comfortable enough with the coach. Trust is that foundation. #educoach
A4. Within relationships, roles, and responsibilities is trust! The importance of trust cannot be understated in any teacher/coach or teacher/administrator relationship if we expect them to be honest about their classroom practices. #educoach
A5: I think this is where I was stuck this year you get so busy doing the “work” of teaching that sometime you forget that Reflection and Understanding of material and teaching is key #educoach
Q5 @alisasimeral mentioned this coaching mistake: Coaching is centered around initiatives instead of reflective practice through those initiatives in this recent post https://t.co/jld9xlt2in. What are ways we can avoid this. #educoach
A4: Fundamental 1 is my favorite and clearly the most important. Without connections and positive relationships, nothing will grow. Advice: LISTEN- you will hear things that you’d otherwise miss. And always Be YOU!!! #educoach.
A4 My first year as a coach, my principal said, “Just get to know them. Ask them about their families, their likes/dislikes. They’ll listen to what you have to say if you get to know them first.” #educoach
Q6 Another mistake is that expectations are not communicated clearly. Is your communication (e.g., written, posted, interpersonal, nonverbal) accurately conveying what's most important to you? How do you know? How might you inventory your communication priorities? #educoach
A5: We can avoid initiative fatigue by focusing on coaching people instead of practices and processes. A best practice is nothing more than wishful thinking unless you can motivate a teacher or leader to implement it well. #EduCoach
Q5 @alisasimeral mentioned this coaching mistake: Coaching is centered around initiatives instead of reflective practice through those initiatives in this recent post https://t.co/jld9xlt2in. What are ways we can avoid this. #educoach
A6: Expectations were not communicated well at all during the initial year of coaching in our district. Still lots of confusion about roles -- and what is a coach after 3 yrs. #educoach
A5: We can avoid initiative fatigue by focusing on coaching people instead of practices and processes. A best practice is nothing more than wishful thinking unless you can motivate a teacher or leader to implement it well. #EduCoach
Q5 @alisasimeral mentioned this coaching mistake: Coaching is centered around initiatives instead of reflective practice through those initiatives in this recent post https://t.co/jld9xlt2in. What are ways we can avoid this. #educoach
A6: Too often we tell staff members what our leadership priorities are instead of asking them. If we're consistently operating with clarity of purpose, they should be be able to share our goals with us... and ideally, how we are going to collectively achieve them. #EduCoach
Q6 Another mistake is that expectations are not communicated clearly. Is your communication (e.g., written, posted, interpersonal, nonverbal) accurately conveying what's most important to you? How do you know? How might you inventory your communication priorities? #educoach
Thanks for sharing that link, Steve! The four signs all point to the "Conscious" stage on the Continuum of Self-Reflection. That said, I'd suggest there are ways to coach 'em! #educoach
I base Reflection (Muhasabah) on the hadith of Umar ibn Khattab (ra), "Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account, weigh your deeds before they are weighed."
#educoach
A5: We can avoid initiative fatigue by focusing on coaching people instead of practices and processes. A best practice is nothing more than wishful thinking unless you can motivate a teacher or leader to implement it well. #EduCoach
Q5 @alisasimeral mentioned this coaching mistake: Coaching is centered around initiatives instead of reflective practice through those initiatives in this recent post https://t.co/jld9xlt2in. What are ways we can avoid this. #educoach
Q7 Schools are famous for celebrating. Are there ways to weave celebrations of your teachers' growth as reflective practitioners into your day-to-day discourse? What might that look and sound like? #educoach
A5: When I think of coaching I think of improving -self. Initiatives are more of a tool to help improve but not what makes the change. Keeping the goal/focus/mission in mind I think will keep you on the right track. #educoach
A6: Too often we tell staff members what our leadership priorities are instead of asking them. If we're consistently operating with clarity of purpose, they should be be able to share our goals with us... and ideally, how we are going to collectively achieve them. #EduCoach
Q6 Another mistake is that expectations are not communicated clearly. Is your communication (e.g., written, posted, interpersonal, nonverbal) accurately conveying what's most important to you? How do you know? How might you inventory your communication priorities? #educoach
A5: I think this is where I was stuck this year you get so busy doing the “work” of teaching that sometime you forget that Reflection and Understanding of material and teaching is key #educoach
Q5 @alisasimeral mentioned this coaching mistake: Coaching is centered around initiatives instead of reflective practice through those initiatives in this recent post https://t.co/jld9xlt2in. What are ways we can avoid this. #educoach
A6: Too often we tell staff members what our leadership priorities are instead of asking them. If we're consistently operating with clarity of purpose, they should be be able to share our goals with us... and ideally, how we are going to collectively achieve them. #EduCoach
Q6 Another mistake is that expectations are not communicated clearly. Is your communication (e.g., written, posted, interpersonal, nonverbal) accurately conveying what's most important to you? How do you know? How might you inventory your communication priorities? #educoach
I am so glad you felt that way too! I walked away this year feeling like I made very little impact on Ts and Ss and that was a hard pill to swallow. #educoach
A7 Are we celebrating the right things? If we celebrate self-reflective growth and self-reflective efforts, it could be as simple as pointing out when we hear teachers asking themselves those tough questions. Noticing and reinforcing effort can go a long ways... #educoach
Q7 Schools are famous for celebrating. Are there ways to weave celebrations of your teachers' growth as reflective practitioners into your day-to-day discourse? What might that look and sound like? #educoach
A7: Creating routines around recognition. And not just a one size fits all recognition. We need to ask how different people want to be celebrated (public vs private, peer-to-peer vs top-down, formal vs informal) #educoach
A7: Creating routines around recognition. And not just a one size fits all recognition. We need to ask how different people want to be celebrated (public vs private, peer-to-peer vs top-down, formal vs informal) #educoach
A7: I always found PLC time to be the best way to celebrate your team victories. A hand written note was one of my favorite ways to celebrate #educoach
I find third-party compliments can be a powerful tool. "That makes me think of a comment Mrs. Soandso made after some deep reflections. Here's what she said: _____" What do you think about that? #educoach
A7: Creating routines around recognition. And not just a one size fits all recognition. We need to ask how different people want to be celebrated (public vs private, peer-to-peer vs top-down, formal vs informal) #educoach
Q8 What is your role in keeping the school’s common vision and mission at the forefront of your teachers' minds? How can you encourage individual teachers to set meaningful goals that simultaneously promote their growth as educators and as reflective practitioners? #educoach
A7: We don't do enough to celebrate attempts (and even failures). I have learned more from the times I failed professionally than the times I succeeded. In my work with teachers, often celebrating the first step holds more value than celebrating the last one. #EduCoach
Q7 Schools are famous for celebrating. Are there ways to weave celebrations of your teachers' growth as reflective practitioners into your day-to-day discourse? What might that look and sound like? #educoach
A8: I always thought my role was to ask questions to help them reflect on the vision and then listen and offer help if needed. I honestly don’t know if I have a role with goals since many Ts work with their Admin on it #educoach
Q8 What is your role in keeping the school’s common vision and mission at the forefront of your teachers' minds? How can you encourage individual teachers to set meaningful goals that simultaneously promote their growth as educators and as reflective practitioners? #educoach
A7: We don't do enough to celebrate attempts (and even failures). I have learned more from the times I failed professionally than the times I succeeded. In my work with teachers, often celebrating the first step holds more value than celebrating the last one. #EduCoach
Q7 Schools are famous for celebrating. Are there ways to weave celebrations of your teachers' growth as reflective practitioners into your day-to-day discourse? What might that look and sound like? #educoach
A7 This is a great question. The mission and vision (or MISION, as I call it) is our guiding light. If we're not clear on it, why are we doing what we're doing? As #leaders no matter what our roles, we must keep the MISION front & center! #educoach#strive
Q8 What is your role in keeping the school’s common vision and mission at the forefront of your teachers' minds? How can you encourage individual teachers to set meaningful goals that simultaneously promote their growth as educators and as reflective practitioners? #educoach
A7 Our district is very big on data meetings. I would love to add the celebrate and calibrate section to each meeting. Let teachers determine what they are looking at, and give them a safe place to share success and opportunities. #educoach
I LOVE that you said celebrating the first step often times holds more weight than the last. I find that starting is when we lose hope and by the end Ts have a sense of pride that come from within #educoach
A8: Great question. I oversee the compliance side of IEPs, MTSS and facilitating meetings. I think if I tie our work back to helping our students teachers may value the reflection and the conversations around it. #educoach
A8: As a school leader, all 1200+ K-12 students knew our mission. We lived and breathed it. It informed not only the way we taught but also what we assessed and celebrated. Leaders need to ask themselves, is your school's mission your "true north"? And if not, how come? #EduCoach
Q8 What is your role in keeping the school’s common vision and mission at the forefront of your teachers' minds? How can you encourage individual teachers to set meaningful goals that simultaneously promote their growth as educators and as reflective practitioners? #educoach
Hey #educoach friends! I’m jumping in late to the chat to invite you to The Impact Cycle Workshop we are hosting Sept. 26-27 at our school in ATL. We would love to have you join us to learn Jim Knight’s coaching cycle! @jimknight99https://t.co/U14DXd6A58
Q9 Follow-through is an important concept. What will it take to effectively circle the wagons around each of your teachers to provide comprehensive, differentiated, cohesive, authentic support for their growth? #educoach
In Islamic perspective, Reflection refers to:
1️⃣ reflecting upon the signs in the universe such as the heavens, the earth, mountains and rivers;
2️⃣ also includes reflecting upon one’s own self and how one was formed and created by God.
#educoach#islamicstudies
Q9 Follow-through is an important concept. What will it take to effectively circle the wagons around each of your teachers to provide comprehensive, differentiated, cohesive, authentic support for their growth? #educoach
A9: I have been thinking on this and I think it’s creating a relationship first and not getting overwhelmed by trying to help everyone but start small and work your way out. At times it seems like I can’t be in enough places at once and I burn mydself out #educoach
Q9 Follow-through is an important concept. What will it take to effectively circle the wagons around each of your teachers to provide comprehensive, differentiated, cohesive, authentic support for their growth? #educoach
A5: Follow up and closing (or continuing) the learning loop is where real traction happens. I found it helpful to dialogue about each teacher's learning preferences and then set calendar or task reminders for joint accountability before the meeting ended. #EduCoach
Q9 Follow-through is an important concept. What will it take to effectively circle the wagons around each of your teachers to provide comprehensive, differentiated, cohesive, authentic support for their growth? #educoach
A9: It would help to have a plan for ongoing communication, subtle & explicit ways to provide that support. I post questions on my desk as a reminder to go back to business from the week before. I will learn from my new staff in a few weeks and will get a plan in place. #educoach
