Beginning+the+Coaching+Journey

Week 8 Term 3 We will use this page for sharing on how things are going so far. I have included some headings but feel free to add more.

Ben Barry School(s): Meeting with the Principal and/or Executive and/or staff: Spoke with Principal and Executive and were happy for the program to roll out and increase next year. Peer Coaching is already running under DER funding. I had to negotiate a method so that I didn't step on anyones toes.

Choosing someone to coach: Coaching. ( Are you working with 1 or 2 at this stage. How often, how's it going, what are the challenges?) I am meeting with two staff currently and have decided what their goals will be. We are meeting once a fortnight but this will increase next term with increased availability of time due to Year 12 leaving. Both are pretty technology savvy so we are working at fine tuning rather than any instructional work. Both persons undertaking the course are enjoying the teamwork aspect of the course. Jo Collins School(s): ‍‍‍‍Culburra and Greenwell Point, but have only done any coaching at Culburra - not the opportunity at Greenwell Point at present. ‍‍‍‍ Meeting with the Principal and/or Executive and/or staff: Met with principal and APs. One AP very receptive and asked if she could be my first guinea pig. We (principal and I) decided I should work with the AP first and next term open the offer up to the 5 new scheme teachers we have on staff to see who would like coaching.

Choosing someone to coach: I have a good relationship with the AP i'm working with and she really needed help with a Best Start G&T Kindergarten project she has to do.

Coaching. ( Are you working with 1 or 2 at this stage. How often, how's it going, what are the challenges?) Only working with 1 so far. It goes well when we are able to be undisturbed for the allotted time - one of the norms was to ignore disruptions - not so easy when people barge into the office where we're working or knock on door if we lock it (and put a do not disturb sign on it). She certainly feels better about the project and I feel comfortable working with her. Doing an hour each week.

Carlyn Bladen School(s): Queanbeyan west Public School Meeting with the Principal and/or Executive and/or staff: Met with the principal, then spoke to the executive at a meeting. Also spoke to the staff I and gave them an in depth about peer coaching. They were not that enthusiastic. I approached 2 people who agreed!!!! Choosing someone to coach: I had to choose someone I already had a positive realationship with so that would give me confidence. I have also approached a new teacher who will be starting a block next term. She is very excited about it. Coaching. ( Are you working with 1 or 2 at this stage. How often, how's it going, what are the challenges?)

At this stage I am working with 1 person. Time is one of the biggest challenges. We meet every Thursday afternoon at our favourite cofee shop which is good to be out of the school environment. Sometimes I find myself going into discussion/advice mode and not coach mode. She is gaining from it, she feels positive and is really implementing some positive strategies from it. Sometimes I find it hard to stay in the 3 questioning modes and I am often probing before clarifying!!!!!! Can someone help me with some good clarifying questions!!!! Also Julie I have a question one of the people I am coaching doesn't always want to talk about lesson plans but wants to talk about integrating her special needs child into the class and also about communication skills!! Is this Ok?? Carlyn Bladen

Sarah Rudling School(s): APRPS

Meeting with the Principal and/or Executive and/or staff: Choosing someone to coach:

Coaching. ( Are you working with 1 or 2 at this stage. How often, how's it going, what are the challenges?) Working with 3 teachers at the moment. Initial stages, and taking baby steps. Am hopeful of good things to come!

Alexandria Lucas School(s): Vincentia High School Meeting with the Principal and/or Executive and/or staff: Principal was surprisingly supportive of the program, however executive at the executive meeting were far less than enthusiastic. Choosing someone to coach: I have been able to convince the HT of English to coach. I have been coaching her around leadership of her faculty and her own professional development. No other executive have been interested. I am going to approach two teaching staff to coach about technology in the classroom. One is resistant and worried about the process but I have used my great coaching skills to convince them it will be a positive process. Time to do this is a common complaint of the teaching staff.

Coaching. ( Are you working with 1 or 2 at this stage. How often, how's it going, what are the challenges?) Please see above

Charmian Cribb School(s): Bradfordville PS Meeting with the Principal and/or Executive and/or staff: Talked about peer coaching with exec - positive principal, one very enthusiastic AP and the other AP is sceptical about peer coaching and life in general! Spoke to all staff and threw open the invitation to be a 'guinea pig' for my peer coaching. Two approached me pretty well straight away and another two since! Choosing someone to coach: To begin I chose the casual teacher on Year 4 - not the easiest to get along with but genuinely interested in the process and the Year 1/2 teacher who wanted to try using grouping in her number lessons. As part of other NP ongoing projects I will be using the questioning framework from peer coaching to work with the librarian and I have already begun working with the receptive AP who wanted to look at some executive situations - scenarios managing issues with parents, developing a united and supportive K-2 network Coaching. ( Are you working with 1 or 2 at this stage. How often, how's it going, what are the challenges?) This term with our NP REI money we booked two casuals every Thursday to relieve teachers to develop programs etc. I have used some of this time to work with the teachers I have been coaching so I haven't had the problem of finding other times - as you can imagine teachers have been positive about having this time! Had quite a few problems with staff sickness etc so will need to catch up with Yr 1/2 teacher at the beginning of next term - whooping cough! I need to make sure that I stay focused on the conversation topic and not go wandering off - too much in my HAT head at the moment! - and that I focus on the quality of my probing questions. I can see fantastic opportunities for using this particularly in my second year as HAT across the school.