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Getting Your Space Ready: Part Two of the Start-Up Guide Series for Instructional Coaching

One of the things you'll want to do right away as a new instructional coach is to set up your room! Whether you have an office or a classroom to do your coaching work, this post explains some of the materials and spaces you'll want. Read about the way I've organized the spaces in my room and what they're used for in my daily coaching. Walking into your classroom at the end of the summer is a magical time, whether you’re an instructional coach or a teacher.

All of your stuff is stacked to the ceiling, on top of the built-in shelves. There are at least two mosquitoes floating around the room. And the air conditioner is most definitely not working. 

And despite all of these disparaging factors, you’re excited. You’re excited to un-box your office supplies and see how many cute post-its you bought over the summer. You’re excited to put up new fabric on the bulletin boards. You’re excited to use that new scrapbook paper to make signs. All of this is true, even for instructional coaches.
 
Every year is a chance to start anew with a new layout! To help you organize your space, here are a few things to think about and a few spaces you’ll probably want to include in your instructional coaching space! Every room is different; some coaches work out of what basically constitutes a closet. But no matter the size of your space, you’ll want to ensure its usefulness by considering the following tips.

One of the things you'll want to do right away as a new instructional coach is to set up your room! Whether you have an office or a classroom to do your coaching work, this post explains some of the materials and spaces you'll want. Read about the way I've organized the spaces in my room and what they're used for in my daily coaching.Space #1 Workspace.
This is your space to work in. In this space, you’ll write out documentation from your classroom visits and work on preparing trainings and alignment documents. This is the spot where you’ll want to organize your office supplies for personal use and have the documentation systems that are for your use rather than teacher use. In this space, include:
*A flat surface to work on. A desk or guided reading table works well.
*Office supplies. Post-its, white-out, highlighters, pens and pencils.
*Make sure there’s an outlet for your laptop or desktop nearby.
 *Printer in proximity.
*Documentation binders on a shelf.

Space #2 Planning Tools
In this section, I keep tools for lesson planning during PLC or for me to use to prepare trainings or workshops. For each grade level, I have a basket and a binder. The basket holds copies of the materials that grade level has copies of in order to facilitate planning. The binder includes documents that help us plan, like the district curriculum guide, the standards for that grade level, and questioning ideas for each standard.

One of the things you'll want to do right away as a new instructional coach is to set up your room! Whether you have an office or a classroom to do your coaching work, this post explains some of the materials and spaces you'll want. Read about the way I've organized the spaces in my room and what they're used for in my daily coaching.
Space #3 Teacher Workspace
Obviously, this space is designed to give teachers room to work and communicate during PLC,  trainings, and meetings. The tables are large and can fit about 8-10 teachers. On each table, I have a basket with post-its, pens, and highlighters for teacher use. Hole punches, staplers, and tape dispensers are nearby. 
One of the things you'll want to do right away as a new instructional coach is to set up your room! Whether you have an office or a classroom to do your coaching work, this post explains some of the materials and spaces you'll want. Read about the way I've organized the spaces in my room and what they're used for in my daily coaching.

Space #4 Teaching Resources

Because my primary focus is reading and writing, the teaching resources we use to plan our lessons are primarily books! I have two sections of books in my room. One of them is dedicated to models for writing. These touchstone texts are organized by writing skill or strategy and are available for teachers to use. For example, if we’re planning a unit on writing good beginnings in narrative text, we can grab the “Good beginnings” basket and dig through to find some great models.

The other section of books include classroom sets or multiple copies of novels or picture books. These are organized in baskets. I have a check-out binder for the class sets, placed on a low table near the shelves.  

One of the things you'll want to do right away as a new instructional coach is to set up your room! Whether you have an office or a classroom to do your coaching work, this post explains some of the materials and spaces you'll want. Read about the way I've organized the spaces in my room and what they're used for in my daily coaching.One of the things you'll want to do right away as a new instructional coach is to set up your room! Whether you have an office or a classroom to do your coaching work, this post explains some of the materials and spaces you'll want. Read about the way I've organized the spaces in my room and what they're used for in my daily coaching.


Space #5 Direct Instruction Space
You know how you provide direct instruction in the classroom and you have a spot to do it in? It might be an easel next to a chair on the carpet, or a document camera projected onto a screen or a whiteboard. You’re going to want a direct instruction space in your instructional coaching room, too. I have space at the front of the room with my media cart handy (document camera, projector, and speakers) and an easel. There’s also magnetic wall space, so I can model lessons or lead professional development there.
One of the things you'll want to do right away as a new instructional coach is to set up your room! Whether you have an office or a classroom to do your coaching work, this post explains some of the materials and spaces you'll want. Read about the way I've organized the spaces in my room and what they're used for in my daily coaching.
One of the things you'll want to do right away as a new instructional coach is to set up your room! Whether you have an office or a classroom to do your coaching work, this post explains some of the materials and spaces you'll want. Read about the way I've organized the spaces in my room and what they're used for in my daily coaching. 
Space #6 Wall Space
Just like in the classroom, your wall space is valuable! You can use it to post anchor charts made during trainings or to create sample charts teachers might like to use in their upcoming instruction. If there’s a new initiative teachers are expected to integrate, this is a great place to post it, front and center. Keeping it visible will help you remember to pull it into your planning!
Another necessary tool is your calendar. I post a large monthly calendar, showing two months at a time. We mark school events, district or campus assessment windows or dates, and other important dates to help us plan accordingly. Keeping the calendars visible is so helpful when you’re planning a crazy month like December!

Space #7 Professional Development Resources
This space is basically your professional development library. If you’ve inherited years’ worth of PD materials (like me), you’ve got shelf after shelf of stuff. Organize it and label it for easy access!

Was this helpful? Would you like more tips and information about getting started as an instructional coach? Check out my all-new ebook: The Start-Up Guide to Instructional Coaching on TPT! There’s a section about getting your space ready that includes these tips and more. I also included a map of my classroom space. It’s over 80 pages of information to help you have a successful year of coaching!

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22 Comments

  1. I'm SOOO thankful that I stumbled upon your blog when searching pinterest for instructional coaching help!! I have been working as an instructional coach in one elementary school for the last 3 years. This year, we have suffered cuts in our positions and I will now be working with 3 elementary schools Pre-K – 3rd!!!!!! I'm VERY NERVOUS!! All of your instructional coaching posts so far have helped me get my brain in the right frame of mind to make this a successful decision for our district! I look forward to lots more great information!!

    Reply

  2. Wow! That's so exciting! Crazy, but exciting lol! I'm so glad you are finding value in the coaching posts! Just trying to share some of the things I've learned from all the mistakes I've made haha!

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  3. I think your blog post is great! I just found it today and need to get caught up on previous posts! I love your recommendations on getting our space ready! So often I have so many ideas I want to implement at the beginning of the year but I get stuck for a few days on how to organize my space and maximize the room's potential!

    Reply

  4. Space is something I am really going to think about. I only saw my space once before leaving. I have a tiny office in the front office across from the other coach. Then we have two classrooms to use for trainings. So I plan on setting up resources for check out in both classrooms– one for pro Rdg materials and the other book sets to use with kiddos.

    My office will be where I store my paperwork and such.

    So excited!

    Reply

  7. I wish I would have as much space as you have but I love how organized you are! I definitely have to redo my working space. I look forward to reading more on this topic!

    Reply

  10. While I'm not an instructional coach yet, these tips are helping me think about what I could do now to prepare for the future! Thank you for the inspiration 🙂

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  11. I am so glad I found your blog! You are an inspiration to me!! Currently re-reading your post about room set-up as I get ready to head out to my school to start prepping for the new "year"!

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  14. Thank you for supporting this work. I have just moved states, accepted a new coaching job in a school that will also have a new principal. I wondered if you have suggestions for joining a new staff, opening activity, or anything you feel would be helpful. I have been a coach before but, this scenario is a bit different than past experiences. Thanks

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  20. I have had a blast setting up my space! It was a "dumping ground" for lost and found items, unwanted furniture, etc. with no carpet and hadn't painted in decades. I have given it an extreme makeover after the district installed new carpet and paint. I have a beach theme (we are near Charleston, SC and three beaches 🙂 I have my binders for each grade level and my data binder ready to roll. I have mints and chocolates in little bowls along with hand lotion and hand sanitizer and will have my calming essential oils diffusing. I want this to be a welcoming space for all! I can't wait! Thanks for all your tips!

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  21. I am an instructional coach at two of our district's elementary schools and I don't have a workspace. I have to lug around my bag and/or a rolling crate. Right now, some of my resources live in my house or in my car. Do you have ideas for how to manage effectively as a mobile coach with no workspace?

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  22. I'm so sorry – that's an experience I do not have! I would probably set up a space in my home as well, and then have files for the teachers at each school. To avoid carrying around so much stuff, you might look into converting your files to Google Docs and storing as much as possible in Google Drive!

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