Coaching
begins with understanding and being understood. One of the subtle ways we feel
understood is when our thinking partner mirrors our body language. For example,
this week, a frustrated teacher came to me with a problem. She was agitated,
speaking quick and high, leaning forward. I responded in like – an urgency in
my voice and a posture that matched her own. Even though she likely couldn’t
have said why, this teacher felt understood.
But
I realized that her agitated state didn’t lend itself to thoughtful
consideration. So after initially mirroring her body language, I recognized the
need for a shift, and I sat back in my chair. I rested my arms on the arm rests
and slowed the cadence of my speech. My body language became a model for the
teacher to mirror, and her agitation ebbed. Soon, we were ready for dialogue
that led to potential solutions.
This
situation demonstrates two examples of mirroring. When I mirrored the teacher’s
emotions, she felt she had a partner in her problem-solving venture. When I
provided a posture she could mirror, she calmed, and we were able to approach
the situation from a more productive stance.
Although
words are a coach’s primary tool, don’t underestimate the role that body
language, pace, and tone play in the coaching scenario. Mirrors can work both
ways.
This week, you might want to
take a look at:
This
video about building trust with students:
Candyland and class rules:
Listen
to this podcast for ideas to teach students through play:
A Pinterest board with picture books
for teaching punctuation:
Content-area literacy or disciplinary
literacy – what’s the shift and how does it look across disciplines:
That’s it for this week. Happy
Coaching!
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