Beyond your first year: How to take stock and grow as a coach
Recently I had an email. It read, “So I just finished my first year of coaching. Now what?!”You’ve worked hard, developed relationships with teachers, and got some great initiatives started at your school. But now what do you do to continue to grow?
(Also, you might be a megalomaniac because I’ve never met an actual person who thinks that!)
So here are six questions you can think about that will help you reflect and take action for next year!
1. What went really well?
2. What didn’t go well?
3. In what part of my work did I feel uncomfortable?
4. Where are students showing instructional gaps at the campus level? grade level? teacher level?
5. What are my teachers’ needs?
6. What are teachers excited about?
Grab these questions on a recording sheet along with a goal setting sheet to get you started! Access at the bottom of the post.
Once you’ve answered these questions, it’s time to think about next steps. Read over your answers and think about how you can turn them into action.
Notice that you were uncomfortable co-teaching? Read a book about it! Read a blog post about it! Create or buy a tool to help you prepare for it! Are your students struggling with writing responses about their reading? Prepare a PD about it! Create or find some resources to help them roll it out in their classrooms! Offer a book study! Teachers excited about flexible seating? Build a Pinterest board to help them find resources and ideas easier! Email some teachers and ask if you can participate in rolling it out in their classrooms!
Reflection is the start, but action is the goal! Get the free download below to start reflecting and planning!
Want to read more about goal setting as a coach? Check out this post from the first Instructional Coaching series: Setting Goals as an Instructional Coach
What are your plans for your next year of coaching?
Want the free guide to reflecting on your coaching year and planning your goals? Check it out below!
Reflection is so key! I think I will use those questions quarterly, maybe monthly as this first year of coaching goes on for me. Thanks!
So many fabulous ideas!! So glad I found you!
Hoping to be able to reflect after my first year; might even be a good idea to do a bit of reflection on a weekly basis!
Do you have a professional development workshop or conference recommendation for a first year literacy coach? I mean, besides taking your wonderful workshop classes.
As a 3rd year Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach for my district, I greatly appreciate this post. Reflection is useful tool for growth and I always want to be a better professional.
Thank You!
Such great ideas! Happy I found your blog!
I also want to ask What are teachers excited about?
Sonia
I wish I had found you earlier . Thank you for all you create for students, teachers and coaches!!!