What Coaching Has Done for Me

I went into this job excited but also very scared. I was worried that teachers wouldn't want me to come in and model lessons and that I would fail miserably. We are now a full month into our official coaching cycle (though we were able to coach teachers at our site before that) and I can honestly say that it has been transformative for me!

The idea of going into someone else's classroom and sharing what I do in my classroom has been invigorating and so much fun for me. Sometimes things in other rooms are amazing and sometimes there are hiccups all of it is great though because having the opportunity to discuss what happened with another teacher and getting their perspective on the lesson that was taught. While I have always been a very reflective teacher, these discussions have made me even more reflective of my teaching - not just the "what went well?" and "what went wrong?" but also the "Why"; as in why did you do this when that, why did you change that when this. The "How" has been fascinating too.  How do you know to...; how do you make sure you...   This process has made me an even better teacher and I believe that it is helping the teachers who have been kind enough to allow me to share their classroom and to teach their classes.

With just a little of over a month in, I can honestly say that I believe every teacher should be given the opportunity to go into other classes, to see other teachers teaching, to see the good, the bad, and the mediocre lessons. I think that this would give each teacher useful insight into their own teaching practices. Isn't that what we want? To be insightful and reflective teachers? I think so. I also think that I am unbelievably excited about the opportunities I have had so far, and the opportunities that lay ahead, thanks to my new position.

What do you hope to get out of watching a teaching coach? What would you hope to see/learn if you were able to go into other classrooms?