Instructional Coaching

Catalog description

An instructional coach is chiefly responsible for bringing evidence-based practices into classrooms by working with teachers and other school leaders. This course focuses on the coach's role in classroom management, content enhancement, instruction, asking effective questions, and assessment for learning. Participants will also explore the fundamentals for sustaining a successful coaching program including how to represent the coach's role to staff, building trusting relationships, participating in ongoing training, garnering support from administrators, and providing confidential, nonevaluative job-embedded professional development for teachers. Types of coaching and how to implement effective verbal and nonverbal communication designed to improve expertise in leadership, communication and listening, positive thinking, and support are major course themes, with additional focus on the conferencing and facilitation skills (including confidentiality agreements among coaches, teachers, and principals).