"Where does a coach begin?"

One question all coaches ask is “Where do I begin?”  Our profession maintains an impossible expectation that new teachers after five days of preplanning are as effective as veteran teachers. Everyone knows this is not true but we still maintain systems that are contrary to what we know.  Broward County Public School has developed important systems to support new teachers.  We have New Teacher Academy, New Teacher Orientation, and many schools now have their own site-based pre-preplanning orientation programs.  However, these events alone do not meet all the needs of the New Educators.  That brings us back to the importance of Instructional Coaches and their dilemma as coaches “Where do we begin?” 

In 1994, Educational Leadership published an article called “What helps students learn?” The article listed 28 indicators that affect student learning.  It would be impossible for a coach to address all 28 indicators in the research.  However, effective coaches know the importance of focusing on the top four because these categories of teacher behaviors have a major impact on student learning.

1. Classroom Management: In the first few weeks of school, the new teacher should focus on developing procedures that create a safe and orderly environment for students. (Safe and orderly environment is one of the Correlates of Effective Schools.)
   
2. Learning Processes: The New Educators should not just focus on content but should help the students develop learning skills they can use beyond the classroom. (Marzano’s “Nine High Yield Strategies” is recommended as source of high impact instructional strategies.)
   
3. Parents as Allies: Encourage New Educators to contact students’ parents early to share something positive about their child and to explain course content and expectations in the classroom. This will make it easier if later a student has difficulty behaviorally or academically. (Home and School is another Correlate of Effective Schools.) 
   
4. High Expectations: The research strongly suggests that a teacher’s expectations have a significant impact on student performance. The attitude of a teacher should be that all the students in his/her class can and will achieve the State Standards. (Climate of High Expectations is a Correlate of Effective Schools.)
   

The next question is, “Which of the four should I do first?” After analyzing the data you collected during your conversations and observations to determine your New Educator’s “Current Reality’, you should have no difficulty answering this question.  If you would like more information please contact your NESS Program Facilitator through your NESS Liaison.

Source: Dr. Doug Miller