We may lack confidence, courage, or motivation to try new things of which we are capable, but a nudge can get us moving in the right direction. Recommendations work best when they feel like a gentle nudge rather than an edict.
But a nudge allows me to keep my footing. I’m not going to fall, I’m just going to move forward. To nudge is to touch gently or urge into action. A nudge is a recommendation loaded with assurance. Pete Carroll said, “Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen.” He was talking about football, but instructional coaches can similarly unlock power. A coach might:
·
Urge
teachers to work together on a problem of practice.
·
Suggest
a book that could offer insight.
·
Encourage
a teacher to present at a staff meeting.
·
Ask
a teacher to let peers observe in her classroom.
·
Offer
leadership opportunities to others.
·
Inspire
teachers to try new approaches.
· Reassure an unconfident teacher that she can manage the new technology.
A nudge is likely to be received gracefully and with appreciation. A pushy recommendation is likely to be met with pushback rather than change. Take a moment and reflect on who might need a nudge to take that next positive step – something you know they are capable of doing, but they may not. Being a pusher can be tiresome and unproductive, but being a nudger – well, that’s something to aspire to!
The difference between nudging and pushing is a matter of language. Our ways with words make a big difference in how a recommendation is received. And one of teachers’ most valued words is their name.
This week, you might want to take a look at:
Empathy statements for responding to difficult teacher comments:
https://barkleypd.com/blog/how-might-a-coach-respond/
This podcast about using songs to teach:
https://www.teachingchannel.com/podcast
Videos from published authors about peer feedback:
https://www.authortoauthor.org/peer-conferring-videos/
Tips for transitioning from teacher to coach:
https://www.teachingchannel.com/blog/transition-teacher-coach
Using shared writing in middle school:
https://choiceliteracy.com/article/using-shared-writing-to-build-argument-skills/
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
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