4 critical questions for managing your time as an instructional coach
Look at your to-do list. I mean, really look at it. Does it look crazy? Impossible? Completely absurd?
This list is like any other: full of important, time-sensitive, necessary things. It’s also full of small, chore-like, and not-so-important things. It’s just a list of things that need to be done.
If you’ve taken my previous advice, this list is housed in your notebook which you carry everywhere and stacked on top of your one calendar of important dates. So that’s a start.
But even with a list, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. What do you do first? What should you add to the list? How do you spend your time?
Over the last few years as an instructional coach, I’ve been thinking about this question. What’s important? I still don’t have the answers, but I do have a few questions that help me think about it more clearly.
You are an instructional coach for teachers. Your job is to push, pull, grow greatness in your teachers. That doesn’t mean you are better than them – I personally know many teachers who I think are truly incredible and I have learned from them. But if you see an opportunity from your third-person perspective, it’s your job to make it happen. That’s where most of your time should be spent.
Some examples:
– Modeling! This is huge!
– Coteaching
– Observing teachers
– Providing quality feedback and coaching one-on-one
– Mentoring new teachers
– Sharing resources with teachers
– Researching new or tried-and-true instructional strategies
– Planning quality trainings for teachers and delivering those trainings
2. Will this task result in long-term gains in student learning?
Obviously, if the work you do doesn’t impact kids, it’s not worth it. That’s the bottom line really: support teachers to support kids. This doesn’t always look the same. These are some tasks that might support long-term gains in student learning:
Some examples:
– Reviewing data and planning next steps with teachers
– Becoming learned in and training teachers in new strategies to support learners in need of intervention or extension. This might include attending (quality) trainings, reading books and articles, or communicating with your PLN.
– Planning an intervention plan with teachers whose students are in need
– Observing a small group of students during class to provide support to their teacher
3. Will this task empower teachers?
That’s your job! The way you’ve ‘made it’ as an instructional coach is (sadly) when your teachers don’t need you! Isn’t that what we want for our kids? We want them to become independent learners who use the inquiry model to figure out problems in their lives. That’s exactly what we want for our teachers, too!
Some examples:
– Working with a cadre of teachers on a new campus initiative
– Planning with teachers during PLC
– Working with teachers to put together a pitch for admin
4. Will this task build a positive, supportive relationship with teachers?
I think this is incredibly important, even if it’s not considered so popular. No one wants to learn or work with someone if they don’t value their opinion. You can’t walk in the door and tell teachers what to do. Without a positive, supportive, and respectful relationship, you’re dead in the water.
Sometimes tasks are important because the people they are for are important.
Some examples:
– Writing a thank-you note to a teacher who has gone out of her way to support her colleagues or you.
– Creating a resource that teachers need but don’t have the time to make themselves.
– Writing thoughtful feedback to a teacher who has asked for help
– Looking into resources that might assist a teacher who’s asked for help
– Listening to teachers’ struggles and accomplishments
– Building a positive relationship with teachers through honest communication – take the time to really listen and share honestly
Some tasks have to be done. Bulletin boards, for example, might not exactly fit into one of these categories, but it has to happen every now and then, and it creates a positive school environment. Monitoring the cafeteria for the Thanksgiving luncheon doesn’t exactly achieve a long-term literacy goal, but it is part of the job and does serve an important purpose. That’s just the reality.
Some things can only be accomplished when teachers and students are actively teaching and learning! You can’t observe teachers’ instructional methods when the kids are at home. Build your schedule around the school day. Tasks like copies, creating resources, and planning your trainings can be done after school or when kids are at lunch or PE. Tasks like observing classrooms, modeling, and observing kids can only be done when they’re in the classroom.
And if you’re interested in more materials, visit TPT to check out my Instructional Coaching MegaPack! It’s over 140 pages of documentation, records, organizational tools, observation forms, planning guides and more, for instructional coaches!
