You’ve
heard this old saying:
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks
like a duck, then it probably is a duck.
Sometimes a statement is really a question looking for
affirmation. If it looks like a question and sounds like a question, then it
probably is a question. That’s what I noticed during a coaching conversation
today.
Julie is a novice teacher who entered the profession
after her kids were grown. She brought a wealth of experience with her that
has served her well in classroom interactions. She knows what really
matters. But, according to Julie, her confidence is “this big”
So, today when I asked her, “What went really well in
that lesson? What were some of the strengths?,” her responses were tentative.
“I had an engaging beginning……”
“We had good discussion…….”
“They really participated……”
Julie’s gaze seemed to hold uncertainty, and each
statement ended with raised pitch as it drifted off. Julie wasn’t really
telling me; she was asking, “Did I do this right?”
When teachers’ instruction is effective but they are a
little unsure of their practice, a word of affirmation from a coach can be
deeply encouraging. Look for opportunities to give affirmation. As a colleague,
you have an appreciation for the difficulty of the work that teachers do every
day. You know what it’s like in the trenches, so your affirmation will likely
be received as sincere and credible.
If you sense a question mark in a teacher’s statement about
strong practices, don’t hesitate to provide the confirmation the teacher is
looking for. Affirmation is a language of appreciation that creates a positive
workplace and helps organizations meet their goals (Chapman & White, 2014).
So, if it sounds like a question……..an affirmation might
just be the right way to quack back!
This week,
you might want to take a look at:
Leprechaun
Traps: A plan for teaching addition within 100
Peer Feedback
for Teachers: Professional Development Video clubs
Peer
Feedback for Students: Revising writing
A
video podcast about ways to
change your school's math culture, plus access to an online version of the book
Small Steps, Big Changes, at:
A
Pinterest Board with books about mechanics (grammar, that is!) and usage:
That’s
it for this week. Happy coaching!
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