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"What Makes a Good Coach?" -- A good coach should be a teacher who encourages students to be their best, even if they fail at something..It is hard for students to fail because then they get a little depressed and withdrawn..I try to encourage my students that even if they fail at something, they have learned something from the failure..but this is a hard concept for students to grasp at the moment. also a good coach should allow students to make their own choices..this is hard when i assign a project and every one wants to do a project their way and i end up getting 20 different projects turned in and it makes it tough to grade each project..However, i need to learn to lose my "control" and let them be in control of the assignment.
ReplyDeleteA good coach is someone who accepts their personalities and helps them to develop skills they need in life in a positive way. A coach is also a role model, someone who models these behaviors and have good communication skills as well as build relationships with the kids. A good finds balance between nurturing and discipline.
ReplyDeleteIn response to C Tatro on July 2, good coaches finds a balance between nurturing and discipline. I have always told my students I am your teacher; not your friend. Students appreciate boundaries & structure in a class.
DeleteI agree with Tatro's comment on July 2nd about nurturing and discipline. They need boundaries and guidelines to know what is the expectations. Without that, you have confusion in student expectations of you as an educator.
Deletein response to C TatroJuly 2, 2014 at 9:13 AM, a good teacher does find a balance between nurturing and discipline. As teachers we need to build relationships with our students but we also need to let them know that we are the teacher and not their friend.
DeleteAbsolutely! To all of the above. I also think a good coach recognizes strengths and knows how to emphasize strengths to build confidence and risk taking and can transfer those feelings to help students feel comfortable and confident in taking risks and developing and strengthening their "weaker" areas so they can develop to their full potential. Effective communication and building relationships is critical to helping students grow and prevent shutting down.
DeleteIn response to C Tatro, I couldn't agree more- good coaches have to balance discipline and nurturing; otherwise, no life skills will come from the activity in the classroom.
DeleteIn response to C Tatro, I agree that a good coach who is a role model and MODELS the behaviors that are expected.
DeleteIn response to C Tatro and J Choy I agree with the need for boundaries and structure and the balance with nurturing and discipline. Well said, ladies!
DeleteA good coach is invested in teaching a child how to independently think for him/herself, not what to think, to achieve a desired outcome. A good coach cheers and encourages the child on to success when they encounter difficulty. A coach facilitates the learning . Fonseca discusses communication, facilitation, and inspiration techniques for parents & teachers I think are helpful.
ReplyDeleteIn response to JChoy, July 2nd, to inspire a child to become independent is the work of great coach. Parents and teachers have to be coaches everyday which include modeling that behavior. As a parent or teacher, when you come across difficulty, that should not be hidden but instead consider it an opportunity to model working through it, using a coping strategy, being honest about the way you are feeling at that very moment. We shouldn't hold ourselves to be perfect for students, children because we are not. We encounter difficulty, challenging times, even our own emotional intensities.
DeleteIn response to jchoy: I agree, a good coach is someone who is invested in teaching, period.
DeleteJchoy, I'm in complete agreement with you. I love what you said about making sure teachers a coaching students how to think not what to think. I believe we need to make sure that we are giving them the tools without lengthy explanations.
DeleteI I think what makes a good coach is one who " givens them the tools necessary to independently figure things out." Page 125. Modeling, motivating, understanding, and viewing challenges as a process of growth seems to me like a good coach. A good coach would provide the student with guidance to help that student stand on their own two feet..." Teach them to catch a fish." The author does an excellent job in explaining just what makes an effective good " coach."
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sarah Chu, July 2nd, yes giving the students the tools they need in order to be successful is right on target. I think we do that sometimes without realizing it...Gradual Release in Guided Reading....the end goal is independent.
DeleteI think a good coach is someone that not only facilitates learning, but who inspires students to learn outside the classroom, as well. I think if you are a good coach, your students feel happy and safe. I need to work on being a better communicator. I really liked Fonseca's advice to quiet our own thoughts when our students are talking to us. This is so hard! As teachers and parents, we are doing a million things at once. I need to do a better job of just listening to my students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said Mrs. T. Students are at their best when they feel happy, safe, and comfortable. I also agree with you that it is difficult to quiet our minds and just listen to our students. Our school days are so busy that it is sometimes hard to take the time to hear what our students have to say. When we find the time to quiet our own thoughts, I am often impressed with the thoughts, ideas, and information students share!
DeleteYes and the inspiration part is key. I like how Fonseca identifies inspiration as a feeling students have when they know their coach believes they will succeed no matter what. This lends a tangible element to being inspirational.
DeleteI agree with Mrs. Timmreck's Kindergarten Class (July 6th). I feel that a good coach is a great communicator, facilitator, active listener and is able to give value and inspiration to children. When our days get so hectic and busy, it is very difficult to quiet our own thoughts when the children are talking to us. They need to know that we have compassion and genuinely care about them as people. Their feelings and thoughts do matter. I need to focus on this coaching model this year. I know that it will not only benefit the children, but I will learn from it as well.
DeleteIn response to Mrs. Timmreck's post on July 6 regarding "quieting our own thoughts" while children are talking to us. How true is this!! We need to incredible listeners and not intrude on their discussion. This makes it theirs not ours. Then when the appropriate time comes, insert or add input that will benefit the child/conversation.
DeleteI agree with Mrs. TImmreck
DeleteIt's tough sometimes to be quiet and listen...so that we can think and provide proper feedback.
After reading Chapter 10, I agree with Fonseca in that a good coach gives students the tools for learning but also allows students to learn independently. I think a good coach takes risks by trying new strategies and techniques that can enrich the learning environment, There is nothing more powerful than a coach who is excited and enthusiastic about the curriculum. There are times you can walk into a classroom and actually feel the energy between the teachers and students. In my mind a good coach brings that exciting energy into a classroom and the result is contagious.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look around and watch some coaches, it is often one who is authoritative, bossy, and feels he/she knows the way to success. I love the idea of a coach who embraces each child's gifts and provides gentle nudging in the direction of empowerment. To parallel teaching and coaching is a nice idea. I hope I can coach/nurture my students while embracing their individuality through active listening (p. 115), good communication (p. 118), debriefing (p. 119 - this one is vital), and inspiration (p. 121). As my students grow through adversity, I hope to coach/inspire them toward resilience that they can manage whatever happens in their lives. So what is a good coach? It's a person who provides a safe physical and emotional environment where their children move closer toward their potential while having some fun together along the journey.
ReplyDeleteIn response to D.Machen on July 9, I like that you have three elements of what a good coach does for his/her students. Can you give an example of how you would actively listen to your students?
DeleteIn response to A Mitch's question on active listening: Because I value self-evaluation and teaching kids to reflect, I take time each week to debrief with my students one on one. They have a sheet they fill out with questions asking them what lesson they especially understood, what is working well socially, and what would they like to talk with me about one-on-one. This gives us a framework for our weekly mini-conference. This has been easy since I have been self-contained, but next year I'm departmentalized. I will have to restructure that time each week to be sure I take the time to 'coach' them through their decision making.
DeleteI love everything about your conferences with students. These kids are so coachable and you are really nurturing the whole student. Third grade does an excellent job of this.
DeleteWhat makes a good coach consists of open communication, good facilitation, and gleaming inspiration. Communication between teachers and students is vital way for both parties to understand the needs of the learning community. Good facilitation falls on the teacher with the expectation to be supportive and looking for teachable moments. On page 135-136, it says that inspiration motivates the child to continue learning." To me, this is a daily coach element that needs to ongoing and ever changing. Inspiration is by-far the most important of all three because it will continue through the student's life.
ReplyDeleteWOW..I really enjoyed this section because I felt like it really spoke to me on many levels...not just as a teacher but as a parent too. This chapter made me think about the commnunication I have my girls and the way I respond to them. I realize that if I want to be a true coach to my students and my girls I must be a better listener. I need to remain quiet and watchful for their nonverbal cues that they are giving me . I feel like I always listen but many time I already know what my response is going to be before they even finish talking. That is NOT good! I see that I must be a control freak...YIKES! I solve the problems for my students/children way too much just simply because we are always in a hurry. A good coach teaches strategies for the child to help/think for themself....it teaches them to be a problem solver! I need to quit being the problem solver !
ReplyDeleteI like your comment that a good coach teaches strategies for the child to help/ think for themselves! I too am guilty of being the problem solver! - Must work on that!
DeleteGreat Tip Sheets in this chapter! I need to keep at hand always - not only with my students but with my children at home. I feel that we as teachers not only need to teach but to guide the children. Agreeing with Judy and Mrs. T students are learning when they feel safe and happy. I do find it hard to squeeze in the time to sit back and listen to the students and their stories. Our day is so busy and we are always on the go that trying to relax and smell the flowers is very difficult.
ReplyDeleteThings that make a good coach: listening, motivating, empowering, encouraging--all action verbs. A good coach is someone who takes action and challenges others to also.
ReplyDeleteExcellent definition!
DeleteA good coach focuses on the process not the product. They are encouraging and helpful while modeling each step and expectation.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that a coach leads the student to come conclusions on their own. On pp.117-119, Fonseca explains facilitation and how a good coach can lead a student to make their own decisions with good questioning. The way in which we word our questions can make all the difference. The scenarios she gives are clear and to the point. This section was helpful to me as a parent and a teacher.
ReplyDeleteI loved this section. I love that she uses the term "coach," instead of parent or teacher. Anyone can be a coach to a child, but it involves so many different areas of communication. A coach needs to work to get the student to properly receive the information, and make sure they are delivering it effectively. (pg. 127) It is about scaffolding the process so that they are taking an active role in the learning.
ReplyDeleteA coach can't just talk the talk, but must also walk the walk. By this I mean that many of the teachers at my school are parents in the neighborhood. We are not only teachers these students, but often scout leaders, swim team volunteers, and just neighbors. Every moment is teachable and a coach needs to model the life they are trying to teach. We can be inspiring through our leadership, or we can be detrimental if not properly facilitated.
A coach is a tough role that can be incredibly rewarding.
GREAT point about walking the walk. Our children and students are ALWAYS watching what we do and how we handle situations. I am a parent in the neighborhood where I teach, and I feel that how I live my life HAS to be a positive example for my students, my children, and their friends who will someday be my students. They need to see both approachability and professionalism at school or in the neighborhood.
DeleteA good coach is reasonable, and doesn't go into any situation with a student armed with a cavalier attitude. There's just very little that can be solved that way. I like how each of the characters in the helpful scenarios (p155, for example) doesn't bully the kid into talking to them.
ReplyDeleteBeing a good coach takes time and commitment...but just think about the payoff! Academic success, stronger personal relationships and overall a better individual. A good coach takes the time and makes the commitment to being a communicator, a facilitator and an inspiration to all students. When we know our students really well as previously discussed, we are active listeners with ears and eyes. Weekly meetings to work on empowering students with how to think questions instead of directives benefit them now and forever.
ReplyDeleteI think a good coach is someone who does all the things everyone else wrote about. But I would like to add that I also think a good coach teaches children how try without fear of failure. And how to recover and move on if they do fail. Pg 137-" Provide the foundation needed to navigate thru the hard times."
ReplyDeleteWhat makes a good coach? A good coach is someone who communicates effectively, helps a child become independent by giving them the tools necessary, models expected behaviors and has clear expectations of what is acceptable, and is committed to the child through the good and difficult times.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with active listening being one of the top things that makes a good coach.
ReplyDeleteNot superimposing your ideas or perspective on a situation, but really listening to the “come from” and perspective of the student being coached. Listening actively but also paying attention to the nonverbal behaviors, the voice tone, the voice level, the chosen words, etc. all give us clues as to the child’s personality and perspective. Once you listen attentively, then a good coach needs to put herself in that person’s shoes and get a sense of what that student is actually dealing with. After that it is important to build trust, respect and repoire with the child before offering advice or suggestions. The coach/mentee relationship is a “process.”
Even though I feel communication, facilitation and inspiration are all characteristics a coach should have but out of the three I believe that communication is the most important of the three. On pg 160 it states that 'communication the first step to effective coaching.' As a coach or leader, it is imperative that you are able to not only communicate but communicate effectively. In order to facilitate and inspiration you have to be able to communicate so that the students/players will follow you and connect with you.
ReplyDeleteMs. K I agree...I feel like at least 95% of teaching comes from the relationship we have with our students. The teachers I remember the most are the ones that LISTENENED to students and had great rapport. They had my respect because I felt that they respected me. As a high school teacher this is very important.
DeleteWhat struck me most was the notion of effective communication (56%), which means both speaking and expressing oneself clearly but also listening attentively and respectfully. Too often, educators feel their role is to talk and impart knowledge on the child, but students deserve (and need) to be heard as well.
ReplyDeleteA good coach shares their passion for the subject, sport, etc. (inspiration). I liked the tip sheet on active listening (communication), and REALLY felt like the (58%) points about staying emotionally detached and watching for nonverbal signs students or children might give to indicate a problem or issue. Avoiding roadblocks children put in front of us, or at least knowing how to effectively deal with them, are essential to a good "coach." As far as a "facilitator," I think that comes with being able to have the first two covered. Without getting kids excited by sharing our own passion, and without being able to communicate, there isn't anything to facilitate.
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ReplyDeleteA good coach is someone who is willing to give all the insights to his students.
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