As the school year rolls on, to-do lists grow longer and time seems to become scarcer, making it even more challenging for teachers to prioritize important tasks, manage daily workloads and research solutions for classroom predicaments that have developed since the start of the school year. Instructional coaching can provide tangible benefits to teachers, students and the school’s culture.
Increase teacher satisfaction
It’s no secret that teaching is a tough gig, and the pandemic certainly hasn’t made things easier. A survey by the Alberta Teachers’ Association found that 37% of teachers will likely leave the profession in the next school year Stressful working conditions and overwhelming responsibilities can lead to feelings of frustration and burnout. Instructional coaching provides a knowledgeable advocate for teachers to confide in and ask for advice. For example, coaches can help teachers streamline transitions to maximize learning time during class. Meaningful, targeted solutions and feedback can help relieve some of the pressure that teachers may be feeling, leading to greater satisfaction overall
Retain effective teachers
Instructional coaching can help teachers feel more valued and secure in their schools. Research shows that teachers who participate in an instructional coaching or mentorship program are less likely to switch schools. Retaining high-quality teachers can lead to a better learning environment for students, as a well-staffed school can offer more programs, extracurricular activities and learning opportunities. Teachers that stay in one school also benefit from legacy knowledge from working in the same community and often with some of the same families from year to year, increasing the level of trust and respect between the school and the community.
Foster a supportive, open culture
Instructional coaching is a great way to engage staff in open, honest dialogue. Teachers might be relieved to have a designated, experienced person to go to for questions, no matter how small. This is especially important for new teachers, who might feel embarrassed or afraid to bother other staff members. Coaches can also accompany their mentees on classroom visits around the school or district to witness other great teachers at work. Classroom visits can be a powerful learning tool to show effective classroom practices in action while helping new teachers connect with experienced educators.
Thank veteran teachers for hosting classroom visits with teacher appreciation giveaways, such as a sticky memo set, laptop backpack or mini folding umbrella.
Improve student outcomes
Teachers who feel supported in their jobs can devote more mental and emotional bandwidth to focusing on what matters most: student academic achievement. Instructional coaching can provide teachers with more tools to handle tricky classroom challenges, such as gaps in understanding or behavioural hiccups. Teachers who implement these strategies can have a big impact on student performance. For example, one case study showed that a teacher and her mentor were able to troubleshoot students’ low quiz results by identifying off-task behaviour as the problem. They addressed the issue with a re-teaching strategy, which resulted in quiz scores that jumped by around 50%.
Reward teachers who participate in the instructional coaching program and meet their goals with a cotton canvas tote, power bank or smartphone wallet with phone stand.
Support a positive environment for students and staff with instructional coaching
With impressive benefits including increased teacher morale and higher student achievement, instructional coaching is an A+ method of improving your school’s culture.