Instructional Support Services

Sign Up for Instructional Coaching

Using Jim Knight's High-Impact Instruction model and the Impact Cycle coaching method, Trinity County Office of Education has two instructional coaches for K-5 and 6-12 teachers. But what is instructional coaching?

First, coaching is not an evaluation tool but is used to support teachers in the classroom, whether the teacher is implementing a new curriculum or wants to work on a new instructional or classroom management practice. Instructional coaches are a teacher’s direct support and thought partner in the classroom. 

A Coaching Impact Cycle in instructional coaching is broken down into three steps: Identify, Learn, and Improve. Not every cycle follows the exact same checklist and could even be a quick technology training and not a full Impact Cycle. But, the below provides an example of what a Coaching Impact Cycle might look like. The teacher-set goals are typically within one of four categories: Content Planning, Instruction, Assessment, or Community Building.

Identify:

• Teacher gets a clear picture of current reality by watching a video of his lesson or by reviewing observation data (video is best).
• Teacher works with coach to answer the Identify questions and identify a goal.
• Teacher identifies a student-focused goal.

 

Learn:

• Coach shares a checklist for the chosen teaching strategies.
• Coach prompts the teacher to modify the practice if the teacher wishes.
• Teacher chooses an approach to modeling that he would like to observe/learn.
• Coach provides modeling/learning in one or more formats.
• Teacher sets a time to implement.

 

Improve:

• Teacher implements the practice.
• Teacher or coach gathers data on student progress toward to the goal.
• Teacher or coach gathers data on teacher’s implementation of the practice.
• Teacher and coach meet to confirm direction and monitor progress.
• Teacher and coach make adaptations and plan next actions until the goal is met.

 

Interested in instructional coaching for the 2023-24 school year? Reach out directly to start the conversation!

Megan Rourke (Preschool-5 coach) - mlrourke@tcoek12.org

Joanne Tucker (6-12 coach) - jtucker@tcoek12.org