You have already begun to coach!
Every time you focus your attention on a student's well-being as well as their academic progress, you are coaching them.
This interactive resource will guide you as you take the right steps to bring even more coaching into your classroom.
What is a Coaching Classroom?
A coaching classroom is one that has a strong focus is on the well-being and development of the teachers and the students. We focus on learning about the subjects, as well as the students' thoughts and feelings.
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." Aristotle.
What are the benefits?
- Lesson planning is more authentic and easier to do.
- Learning can be taken from every event, activity and situation.
- Research and discussions follow students' interests.
- They go deeper which results in meaningful learning.
What are the steps to take?
In general, they include these:
- Hold the belief that all students are naturally curious about the world and capable of learning anything.
Then act on that belief. - Release the burdens of being the Sage on the Stage to become a Guide and Supporter for learning.
What does it require of you?
- It takes courage, curiosity, collaboration and communication.
- It requires you to not judge the students in any way, or know in advance what will happen in lessons
Essentially, in a coaching classroom, you and your students are unafraid to collaboratively explore and fail.
Because that's what life-long learning is.
The 12 Action Steps to a Coaching Classroom
We have found these 12 Action Steps will get you there. We have grouped them into four Stages
Stage One
By using Positive Language and Humour you will begin to Ask your students more than you Tell them, which makes your relationships more authentic.
Stage Two
Asking the right kind of Open Questions you will deepen the discussions in the classroom. By Asking for Feedback and Learning from Mistakes you will encourage your students to be courageous and curious about what they can learn from you and each other, as well as themselves. This strengthens learner autonomy and changes the role of the teacher from Sage on the Stage to Guide on the Side.
Stage Three
Sharing the responsibility for the working Agreement, clarity about whose Agenda you are using and collaboratively setting Goals will bring a connection to the wider community and engagement in learning for a higher purpose that is vital for the students' continued wellbeing and impact during their working lives.
Stage Four
Adapting your teaching to the many different Learning Styles that your students have, will show them what a coaching leadership looks, sounds and feels like. You will be their Role Model, as much as their other heroes and idols. Your students explore and clarify their Values and Beliefs that will guide them throughout their lives.
Your Instructor
Martin Richards CPCC - Guiding educators in evolving learning organisations
I am an experienced teacher, an author and a certified coach. My expertise includes processes that create trusting and professional relationships. I have worked as an independent consultant for 35+ years and enjoyed every minute of it.
My qualifications include PGCE teacher training from Sussex University and CPCC Co-Active Coach certification from CTI, the Coaches Training Institute. I also took a Systems Coach training through ORSC, (Organisations, Relationships and Systems Coaching).
What I do
I support educators in developing their skills in coaching as applied to education. My Life Purpose is to play a strong role in the evolution the education systems around the world - to release the full potential of humankind.
To that end, I founded coaching4educators.org and co-founded ibmee.org, the non-profit that offers the trauma-informed life and learning coaching & teaching system that enhances whole-person, individualized, and collaborative learning.
Course Curriculum
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StartWelcome to Stage One (1:23)
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StartStep 1 - Positive Language makes your communication clear, powerful and uplifting
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StartInterview about Positive Language - with Nikita Gomez
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StartStories about Positive Language
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StartArticles about Positive Language
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StartStep 2 - Humour, not Jokes, keeps your brain healthy, engaged and happy
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StartInterview about Humour, not Jokes - with Edmund Pitts
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StartStories about Humour, not Jokes
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StartArticles about Humour, not Jokes
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StartStep 3 - Asking, not Telling, puts the responsibility for learning on the student
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StartInterview about Asking, not Telling - with Anjali Paterson
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StartStories about Ask not Tell
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StartArticles about Ask, not Tell