My Journey to Instructional Coaching: A Reflection
A few years ago, I found myself sitting across from my principal and assistant principal in a room filled with the familiar hum of school life. They asked me a question that would change the course of my career: "Why do you want to be an instructional coach?" As I started answering, I felt an unexpected surge of emotion. I spoke about my passion for teaching, my love for my students, and my desire to make a broader impact. It was during this conversation that I fully realized my calling extended beyond the four walls of my own classroom.
Discovering Instructional Coaching
Instructional coaching is a collaborative, ongoing process that seeks to improve teaching practices and ultimately, enrich student learning experiences. It involves a seasoned coach working closely with teachers on a one-on-one basis, offering constructive feedback, sharing valuable insights, and jointly developing strategies for growth and improvement. This process is tailored to each teacher's unique classroom environment and teaching style.
Embracing Culturally Relevant Instructional Coaching
One of the most profound lessons in my journey was understanding the significance of culturally relevant education. This pedagogical approach acknowledges and values the diverse cultural identities and backgrounds of students in the learning process. It aims to empower students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural references to convey knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
As an instructional coach, I learned that I could play a pivotal role in promoting culturally relevant education. By guiding teachers to understand and implement culturally responsive teaching practices, we can foster learning environments that are inclusive, engaging, and empowering for all students.
Charting the Course: Starting with Reflection
The path to becoming an instructional coach begins with introspection.
Reflect on your own teaching practice. Ask yourself tough questions. Where can I improve? How can I make my classroom more culturally responsive? What teaching strategies have worked, and which ones need rethinking?
Next, turn your gaze towards your broader school community. What role can you play in enhancing teaching practices and student outcomes across all classrooms? How can you contribute to fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement?
This self-reflection can help you identify your objectives as an instructional coach and devise a roadmap to achieve them. Here is a self-reflection toolkit that you can get started with yourself or share with your team.
Becoming an instructional coach has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my career. It has not only allowed me to enhance my own teaching practices and positively impact my students' learning experiences but also enabled me to influence my school community more broadly. It's a journey of continuous learning, reflection, and commitment. And it's a journey that can transform our classrooms into more equitable and inclusive spaces for all students.
Grab the FREE toolkit for creating a welcoming and affirming environment.
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So excited to share my very first children’s book! Written with love for my two little loves and excited to share with the rest of you. Perfect for ages 0-4.
