We want to give you a peek inside our Coach Certificate & Mentorship Program. Coaches taking part in this academic-year-long journey have graciously given us permission to post some of their learning and reflections from the private coursework they are undertaking during this program. Where possible, we have shared the course and the action task to give context for the guest post.
Watch Ana Cristina’s Video
Read Ana Cristina’s Reflection
What goals did you set for yourself at the beginning of the program?
My main goal was to understand the concept of instructional coaching and to develop the skills and knowledge needed to become an instructional coach.
How did each milestone support you in reaching your goal?
The creation of my definition of coaching and my coaching menu (Milestones 1 and 2) was made possible through the material I read and the reflections I engaged in while processing and understanding it. Applying this knowledge to create these artifacts required deep synthesis work, which helped me understand and internalize the foundations and principles of coaching. Artifact 3-a video of my first pre-observation meeting with my coaching partner-provided a real, concrete experience of what a coaching conversation is like. It gave me, for the first time, a taste of what it feels like to engage in this kind of dialogue.
What has been your biggest area of growth in the program?
My biggest area of growth has been discovering what instructional coaching truly is and successfully completing a short but intense coaching cycle. This experience allowed me to reflect deeply and confront myself to determine whether I have the potential to begin my journey as an instructional coach.
Which milestone had the most impact on your professional growth this year & why?
Without a doubt, the milestone that had the most impact on my professional growth was the video featuring a coaching conversation. Creating this artifact has been an invaluable learning experience. It has allowed me to go through the different steps required to facilitate coaching conversations: finding a coaching partner, agreeing on dates for pre- and post-coaching conversations as well as a classroom visit, discussing goals, managing one’s role as a coach, applying effective listening skills, and learning to tame the tendency to judge or give advice, among other aspects.
This artifact also meant stepping out of my comfort zone and engaging with the real dynamics of coaching. This step has allowed me to begin experiencing the reality of coaching firsthand and to reflect on my strengths and areas for improvement in my coaching approach. On the other hand, it required me to learn how to use video editing applications, I am still learning, but I can affirm that my skill gap in this area has diminished.
Where do you still have room to grow?
My journey as an instructional coach is just beginning, and there is still so much room for growth through practice and reflection.
What surprises and/or challenges have you had along the way? What would you do differently next time? What did you learn?
One of my biggest challenges as a novice coach is knowing which questions to ask and how to respond to what your coaching partner shares without being evaluative or judgmental. Another challenge I’ve encountered is not knowing how to manage unexpected situations during a coaching meeting. For example, this might be something you observe during a classroom visit that you feel is important to address during the post-observation conversation, but your coaching partner doesn’t mention it- or may not even be aware of it.
Through this experience, I’veI learned that it’s OK to share your observations, as long as you first ask for permission and use thoughtful sentence starters such as “I notice..”, “Tell me about…”, or “What made you decide to…?”. The key is to be honest and respectful when posing these questions and to foster a reflective dialogue. The ultimate goal is to clarify whether there’s something that needs to be addressed for improvement and, more importantly, to support continuous growth as an educator.
How did the Coach support you in your learning journey? How has your learning inside the Coach impacted your coaching practice & program in your school setting?
This program has given me the opportunity to both learn and apply what I’ve gained from the experience. I’m truly grateful for the growth that the Coach has brought into my life. It has allowed me to engage in a real coaching experience and to begin meaningful conversations about coaching with my supervisors.
What’s next for your professional learning?
I am looking forward to opportunities to continue putting into practice what I’ve learned through the Coach. I also plan to seek out professional development opportunities to strengthen my knowledge of instructional strategies and to stay up to date with the latest trends in teaching, particularly in areas such as literacy and math, among others.
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