Confidence
is optimistic belief in our chances for success. When we are confident, we feel that our
chances of success are high, that our efforts will result in a favorable
outcome. It is an optimistic
self-belief. Psychologists call this
belief self-efficacy.
Self-efficacy
is important for teachers because, as Henry Ford put it, “Whether you think you
can or you think you can’t - - you’re right.”
Like the Little Engine, teachers who “think they can” accomplish
remarkable things. Albert Bandura, a
cognitive psychologist, describes ways to boost self-efficacy that have special
relevance for instructional coaches. They
are: vicarious experiences, mastery experiences, and verbal persuasion.
Vicarious Experiences
Observing
successes of people we consider as role models builds self-efficacy. Seeing people similar to ourselves succeed
through sustained effort raises our belief that we, too, can have success in
that area. This is one of the reasons modeling
new practices is an effective coaching move.
When teachers see students learning as we use a pedagogical practice in
their classroom, they feel optimistic about using the strategy successfully as
well.
Modeling
transmits knowledge and teaches skills and strategies for managing the demands
of teaching. These outcomes increase self-efficacy.
Mastery Experiences
The
strongest source of self-efficacy is through mastery experiences. Having a success will build confidence;
however, a disappointing outcome will undermine self-belief. This is one of the reasons why it is
important for instructional coaches to gauge the recommendations
they make. Coaches should consider
whether an approach is within a teacher’s zone of
proximal development before recommending.
If a teacher can be successful with a new approach, through scaffolding
by her coach, then the recommendation is appropriate and the teacher’s
experience will likely boost self-efficacy.
Teachers
with self-efficacy approach difficult tasks as challenges to be solved. An
efficacious outlook increases motivation. Successful teaching experiences build
a robust belief that teachers can make a difference in student outcomes.
Verbal Persuasion
A
third source for strengthening people’s confidence is verbal persuasion. By this, Bandura means convincing people that
they possess the capabilities to master an activity. It’s important that this “verbal
persuasion” align with teachers’ actual competencies, since unrealistic boosts
in efficacy are quickly disconfirmed by disappointing results of one’s efforts
(Bandura, 1994). When teachers don’t see
the results they want, their self-efficacy is undermined, no matter how
positively others speak of them.
As
instructional coaches affirm
teachers’ instructional successes, they are providing verbal persuasion that
can boost self-efficacy. Affirming
convinces teachers that they possess the capabilities to master activities so
that they are more likely to sustain the practice, even when problems arise.
Boosting Student Achievement
Because
teachers’ self-efficacy correlates directly with student achievement (Cantrell
& Callaway, 2008), strengthening teachers’ confidence is an important coaching
role. Supporting success through
modeling (vicarious experiences), making recommendations that lead to success
(mastery experiences), and affirming instructional decisions (verbal persuasion)
boosts confidence, improves teaching, and increases students’ learning.
Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V.
S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (Vol. 4, pp.
71-81). New York: Academic Press.
Cantrell,
S. C., & Callaway, P. (2008). High and low implementers of content literacy
instruction: Portraits of teacher efficacy. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24,
1739–1750.
This week, you might want to
take a look at:
A
mini-unit to get kids ready for summer reading:
Ending
the school year on a high note:
Giving
students choice about assessment:
Scaffolding to prepare for successful Socratic
seminars:
Sharpen your coaching skills with this
microcredential from NEA – designed for cooperating teachers, but helpful for
supporting all adult teacher-learners (must
create a free account):
That’s it for this week.
Happy Coaching!
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Thank you for these tips. I always look forward to your weekly newsletters and find them so helpful!
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