The First Step to Becoming a Successful Instructional Coach with Lindsay Deacon and Angela Harkness

In our first #coachbetter Season 6 episode,  Kim unpacks a big concept that has come up a lot in conversations recently: why instructional coaching is (or should be) a full time role in schools. In our recent AAICIS (Association for the Advancement of Instructional Coaching in International Schools) landscape study of international schools we found that many of the schools that don’t have coaching programs cite the fact that other educators are fulfilling the role of coach, most likely people with coordinator roles, or middle level leaders. This finding aligns with what clients in The Coach often say about the challenge of advocating for a full time instructional coaching position - and what we hear from school leaders when they’re considering hiring coaches.  This episode can help you articulate why instructional coaching is a specific skill, and how important it is that there is time specifically devoted for coaching work (not just an add-on to an already full job description). Find the show notes for this episode here. References in this episode Coaching Matters (1st edition) by Joellen Killion, Cindy Harrison, Chris Bryan, and Heather Clifton [2nd edition here] "Fostering a Culture of Growth and Belonging: The Multi-Faceted Impact of Instructional Coaching in International Schools" by Kim Cofino in Handbook of Research on Critical Issues and Global Trends in International Education "Five Reasons Instructional Coaching in International Schools Is So Complex" by Kim Cofino in The International Educator (TIE) What Makes Coaching Work? with Joellen Killion [Ep 146] Creating a Positive School Culture Through Coaching with Kaitlyn Pettinga [Ep 215] The Importance of Defining the Purpose of Coaching with Ji Han [Ep 220] Building a Culture of Coaching with Carla Marschall [Ep 223] Making Instructional Coaching Sustainable with Ellen and Bruce Eisenberg  [Ep 230] Untangling Instructional Coaching, Evaluation & Appraisal with Samantha Olson-Wyman and Stephanie Cifuentes [Ep 234] A Leadership Perspective: Making Coaching Successful with LaTyia Rolle [Ep 242]

27 Aug 202430min

For the tenth and final episode in the series, the topic is Looking Back to Move Forward as an Instructional Coach - a collaborative #coachbetter quick tips with Kim and Diana together . This episode focuses on the importance of reflection to help you prepare for the next academic year.  The whole series has been about reflecting on your practice and this one will set you up for an annual process every academic year. If you enjoy this episode, and you’re curious about the others, please go back and listen to the rest of the series to learn about the Thrive Model for Sustainable Instructional Coaching so you can reflect on the Clarity, Consistency and Community you have in your coaching practice and program. This series is designed to be an annual refresh of your coaching practice - even if you’ve heard some of the episodes before, every time you listen, when you reflect back on your growth over the last academic year, you’ll be able to take something new away to apply in your practice in the next academic year.  Download our free companion guide & workbook that aligns with this series at edurolearning.com/refresh

20 Aug 202422min

The topic for the ninth episode in this series is Embracing Your Informal Leadership as an Instructional Coach. This episode focuses on the essential mindset shift that educators need to make when moving into an instructional coaching role. If you enjoy this episode, you’ll love the previous episodes. Go back and listen so you can refresh your coaching practice following the three phases of the Thrive Model: Clarity, Consistency and Community. This series is designed to be an annual refresh of your coaching practice - even if you’ve heard some of the episodes before, every time you listen, when you reflect back on your growth over the last academic year, you’ll be able to take something new away to apply in your practice in the next academic year.  Download our free companion guide & workbook that aligns with this series at edurolearning.com/refresh

13 Aug 202416min

For the eighth episode in this series, the topic is 5 Reasons Instructional Coaches are Essential in Schools. This episode focuses on the essential mindset shift that educators need to make when moving into an instructional coaching role.  If you enjoy this episode, you’ll love the previous episodes. Go back and listen so you can refresh your coaching practice following the three phases of the Thrive Model: Clarity, Consistency and Community. This series is designed to be an annual refresh of your coaching practice - even if you’ve heard some of the episodes before, every time you listen, when you reflect back on your growth over the last academic year, you’ll be able to take something new away to apply in your practice in the next academic year.  Download our free companion guide & workbook that aligns with this series at edurolearning.com/refresh

6 Aug 202414min

For the seventh episode in this series, the topic is 6 Strategies to Build Relationships with ALL Teachers. This episode focuses on the third phase of Thrive Model for Sustainable Instructional Coaching: Community. To make sure you’re getting all phases of the Thrive Model, please listen to the previous episodes.   This series is designed to be an annual refresh of your coaching practice - even if you’ve heard some of the episodes before, every time you listen, when you reflect back on your growth over the last academic year, you’ll be able to take something new away to apply in your practice in the next academic year.  Download our free companion guide & workbook that aligns with this series at edurolearning.com/refresh

30 Jul 202416min

The topic for the sixth episode in this series is 5 Ways to Build a Coaching Culture. This episode focuses on the third phase of Thrive Model for Sustainable Instructional Coaching: Community. To make sure you’re getting all phases of the Thrive Model, please listen to the previous episodes. This series is designed to be an annual refresh of your coaching practice - even if you’ve heard some of the episodes before, every time you listen, when you reflect back on your growth over the last academic year, you’ll be able to take something new away to apply in your practice in the next academic year.  Download our free companion guide & workbook that aligns with this series at edurolearning.com/refresh

23 Jul 202420min

For the fifth episode of this series, our topic is Asking Just the Right Questions as an Instructional Coach. This episode focuses on the second phase of Thrive Model for Sustainable Instructional Coaching: Consistency. To make sure you’re getting all phases of the Thrive Model, please listen to the previous episodes. This series is designed to be an annual refresh of your coaching practice - even if you’ve heard some of the episodes before, every time you listen, when you reflect back on your growth over the last academic year, you’ll be able to take something new away to apply in your practice in the next academic year.  Download our free companion guide & workbook that aligns with this series at edurolearning.com/refresh

17 Jul 202419min

The topic of episode 4 is the Top 5 Elements for an Effective Instructional Coaching Conversation. This episode focuses on the second phase of Thrive Model for Sustainable Instructional Coaching: Consistency. To learn about all three phases of the Thrive Model, please listen to the previous episodes. This series is designed to be an annual refresh of your coaching practice - even if you’ve heard some of the episodes before, every time you listen, when you reflect back on your growth over the last academic year, you’ll be able to take something new away to apply in your practice in the next academic year.  Download our free companion guide & workbook that aligns with this series at edurolearning.com/refresh

9 Jul 202419min