You Are the… Heart-Driven Helper!
BUT HOW ARE YOU, REALLY?
You’re happiest when you feel like you’ve become more than acquaintances with your teachers. Teachers have to trust their coaches, and you have figured out how to make that happen.
You’re motivated by the human component of school, whether that’s being a friend to teachers or to kids, and we all know that learning happens best when we have a relationship.
What are your superpowers?
Real relationships are hard to achieve in school environments, especially when there is a coach-teacher dynamic involved, but building relationships with teachers is your natural gift! You show empathy and you’re an open book. Building bridges comes naturally to you, and you find ways to connect with teachers who might be distant with others.
Coaches like you are driven to be a support or the teacher as a person, acknowledging that teaching is challenging and everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes. You’re a trusted confidant and you know when to put something in the vault rather than share it with your administration or anyone else. You remember to ask about the weekend, their hobbies, and how their partner’s surgery went, when others get right down to the work and forget to check in.
Teachers come to you with their challenges and look for the support that you’re so great at providing! They believe you’re on there side…because you are!
Every coach has natural abilities that serve them well and help them serve teachers in different ways. Knowing your natural strengths as well as those areas that can use some refinement can help you be the impactful coach you are meant to be!
The resources I share below will help you maximize your effectiveness as a coach!
Grow your superpowers with these two podcast episodes of Buzzing with Ms. B: The Coaching Podcast!
I handpicked these episodes for you because they will help you hone your already incredible coaching gifts!
Episode 58: Collecting feedback from teachers
Episode: 74: Building relationships with teachers
Episode: 74: Building relationships with teachers
Episode 58: Collecting feedback from teachers
Episode: 74: Building relationships with teachers
What traps can you fall into?
You work hard to cultivate your relationships with teachers, but because your work is so relationship based, you may find yourself avoiding challenging or difficult conversations. When teachers frequently push against our boundaries or you see situations that need to be discussed, you may be worried about upsetting the apple cart and let those moments go by unaddressed.
Coaches who don’t want to burden teachers with too much will say “yes” to almost anything if they think it will take something off a teacher’s plate. On top of that, you may find yourself hesitating to walk into classrooms when you think a teacher isn’t interested in working with you. Those classrooms could be the ones that need us the most, so it’s important to find ways to support teacher and the kids, even if it’s uncomfortable for you at first.
Listen to three specific podcast episodes of Buzzing with Ms. B: The Coaching Podcast to help avoid the traps!
I picked these episodes carefully to give you support in areas that can help you round out your coaching approach!
Episode 81: How not to be one more thing on a teacher’s plate
Episode 89: How boundaries make you a better coach
Episode 96: Three times to say no
And, if you’re looking for a resource to help you start right away, grab this tool from my online store! It will help you pose challenging questions to teachers during PLC and PD, but in a fun and light way. Getting teachers to think deeply about their work can feel “heavy”, but it’s the best way to impact their teaching!
And, if you’re looking for a resource to help you start right away, grab this tool from my online store! It will help you pose challenging questions to teachers during PLC and PD, but in a fun and light way. Getting teachers to think deeply about their work can feel “heavy”, but it’s the best way to impact their teaching!
Teacher Discussion Dice for PLCs