But my goal of this blog post is to show others that the biggest part of the instructional coaching program is about learning from our mistakes, and also maybe more importantly, letting others help us and learn with us through our mistakes. So often teachers feel like they have to tackle this challenge on their own and that they can't let others know about areas they are working on or areas that they are struggling with. This has been developed by years of teaching in isolation. The goal of instructional coaching is to break down that isolation and to develop a team of teachers, that together as a team can become an expert.
I believe one of the best ways to do this is by allowing others to see our mistakes. So that is why I have linked my teaching evaluation video. This has been one of the biggest helps to my growth as an educator. We don't get to "see" ourselves teach too often. Yes, we can reflect on a lesson. I thought this lesson went really well...until I watched the recording! In the lesson I was co-teaching with another math teacher, as the instructional coach I was going to model how to use Mental Modeling. After the lesson, I thought I did a great job with my mental modeling, it wasn't until I watched the recording that I realized I made some grand mistakes. I started off good, with using my "I statements" and explaining my thought process behind how I tackle new problems. But as I went through the lesson, I stopped using the "I statements" and even at one point was asking questions that I was then answering myself. It was confusing to the students, was I asking them a question or not. At one point, a couple of hands even went up to answer the question I had asked, but I just kept on talking, answering the question myself and the hands slowly went back down. Students were confused if I was instructing them, or if I was mental modeling my thinking because I had stopped using authentic "I statements".
What I am trying to get across is the idea that we are not alone in this journey. Let others know we are not perfect, we have areas that we are strong in and areas that we are working on. We should let each other know what are strengths and weakness are so that we can work together to support each other.
One of the great parts about my role as an instructional coach is that I have 3 other coaches to work with. We each have our own set of skills and areas that we are strong in and areas that we are weak in. But what has helped me grow is that I know I can trust them to help me with my weaknesses.
We should work together as a team, encourage others when they are struggling, celebrate successes together, and combine all our strengths and weakness in order to be an EXPERT TEAM of EDUCATORS.
