How to Utilize an Instructional Coach

The vast majority of people I have worked with in my thirteen years of teaching are excellent educators. They challenge, motivate, and inspire their students. Their classrooms are well-oiled machines where students are maturing, growing, and learning. But just as there is no perfect person, there is also no perfect teacher. We can all improve in our trade.

And this is where instructional coaches enter the picture. Instructional coaches support and collaborate with teachers as they continue to master their craft. Whether a person is in his first or twentieth year of teaching, he can partner with an instructional coach to develop or enhance his skills.

Below is a list of some specific examples for how instructional coaches can work with teachers.

Behavior

• Collect data on the ratio of positive to negative interactions with students
• Help create effective, corrective comments when addressing student behavior
• Document students' time on task
• Provide support to increase the number of opportunities student have to interact in a learning activity

Content

• Assist with the creation and modification of learning targets
• Work with PLCs to determine power standards and mastery or learning
• Organize a unit of study
• Clarify what content will be taught in a unit
• Help enhance instruction so students master more content

Instruction

• Model lessons
• Collect data on types of questions asked in class
• Improve the quality of student activities

Formative Assessment

• Aid in developing appropriate, high-quality assessments
• Assist with providing student feedback that is quick and authentic