In my last post, I began a summary of Tell Me So I Can Hear You, by Drago-Severson and Blum-DeStefano. In this post, I want to continue the summary by focusing on constructive feedback and bridging feedback into action. Action is where the impact of change is felt, and where we can develop more equitable schools and teaching practices.
Coaching Conversation & Strategic Actions
Effective Feedback
Three months ago I started learning to play the piano. I’m using an app that listens to what I play and gives me feedback. It slows down if I need a slower pace, and has me repeat sections that are difficult. I also get emails indicating if I haven’t practiced in awhile and congratulating me when I’ve completed a practicing streak. Reflecting on this positive experience and how quickly I’m learning to play and reflecting on the conversations in which I have received valuable feedback, I decided to reread and synthesize a few books on giving feedback to educators. Today I will summarize one of the books: Tell Me So I Can Hear You, by Drago-Severson and Blum-DeStefano.
The Power of a Process Observer
I have to admit I was initially afraid to use Process Observers to give feedback on meetings. I read about the Process Observer (PO) role in Elena Aguilar’s The Art of Coaching Teams and was intrigued. However I had never participated in a meeting where a person was designated or trained as a PO. Fortunately a colleague modeled the process for me in a meeting we co-facilitated. I immediately saw the benefit for team growth. In today’s post I will summarize some of what I’ve learned and tried with the PO role.
The Power of Questions and Prompts
In last week’s post I wrote about a thought-provoking activity, Banned Words. This week I want to discuss a powerful follow up to addressing Banned Words/deficit language. Elena Aguilar’s Coaching Sentence Stems is one of the most useful tools in my coaching toolkit. When used within a trusting partnership or team situation, the stems can lead to shifts in language and in the focus of a conversation.
Beliefs and Language
Sustainable change happens when beliefs change, because beliefs influence behaviors. Sometimes, behaviors need to change to help people see the potential behind expanded beliefs. In other words, I need to see it, to believe it. Awareness can also be leveraged towards changing beliefs. In well facilitated meetings and effective conversation, we can raise awareness. We can create experiences and conditions where awareness changes behaviors, which aligns with or scaffolds a change in beliefs.
High Leverage Coaching and Mentoring Tools
Effective coaches and mentors use tools to best meet the current goals of a colleague. Reflective coaches practice, reflect on, and improve on their use of tools. They plan for conversations with an intentional review on past conversations, select potential tools for the upcoming conversation/s, are committed to showing up for the colleague, and know that the journey is where the real learning will occur. As a result, a coach needs to be flexible and follow the colleague’s cues and most pressing questions/challenges. I want to write, in this post, about what high leverage tools do, and share some of the high leverage tools I use at this time.
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The Importance of Trust and Purpose
As a coach, I know the importance of building trust. No one will grow alongside me if they don’t feel valued, if they don’t feel I see their strengths and capacity for growth. Being consistent and reliable, genuine and authentic, and giving space while asking intentional questions all build trust. Last week I made a mistake that diminished the trust I had started to build with one of my colleagues. This week I made it my goal to rebuild trust with his teacher. Today’s post is a reflection on this process.
How Can We Support Our Own Resilience?
As I wrote in my last post, I am committed to supporting teachers’ resilience and emotions. For me this is an equity move that models Social Emotional Learning strategies that teachers can often use with their students. By nurturing our own emotional resilience, we are better able to support our students’ social emotional well being, which enables their strengths and genius to blossom. Continue reading “How Can We Support Our Own Resilience?”
What Are Some Ways to Support Resilience?
This fall, I am committed to building my own resilience in order to support colleagues and students. I know this will need to be a focus of my coaching and leadership always, and especially given the times we are living in. Some resources I will use include Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators, mantra with visualization, and mindfulness. I want to share a few ideas in this post.
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When a Book Comes Along at the Perfect Time
As I transitioned from being a classroom teacher into a coaching role, I sought out trainings and books to support my learning. I discovered The Art of Coaching, by Elena Aguilar. This book, and the other books written by Aguilar, have influenced me as a leader, a coach, and as a mom and wife. I’d like to write this week about when and how each of Aguilar’s books supported my learning and leading.
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