Coaching Goals: Would you rather?

Goals are great! They help us grow! But how we phrase them makes a big difference in how we feel about the goal and whether we’ll stick with it. Thinking about goals from a teacher’s perspective, would you rather:
 
Try not to repeat student answers
OR
Ask a student to repeat their answer
 
Reduce students’ off-task behavior
OR
Stay aware of student movement in the room
 
Stop using slides with lots of words
OR
Include more visuals on slides
 
By now, you get the idea – it’s more inviting to have an approach goal than an avoid goal. Stating goals as a positive outcome rather than lack of a negative one wins out every time.
 
Negatively-phrased goals focus on steering clear of undesired actions. These avoidance goals are often preceded by fear of failure. When a goal is negatively worded, it’s more likely that we won’t stick with it. We’ll feel funky every time we think about it. We’ll probably procrastinate.
 
On the other hand, approach-oriented goals involve reaching or maintaining desired outcomes. People are more likely to commit to completing tasks and taking part in activities that are positioned in a positive light. Approach goals become more potent motivational goals because they focus on action and activity around what can be done.
 
As coaches, we can help teachers choose approach goals by reframing concerns as possibilities. If a teacher states a goal in avoidance terms, flip it around to word it more positively. Reframing a goal positively makes it more likely that she’ll persist and achieve the goal.
 
Want more good news? Approach goals are more associated with happiness. 😊

This week, you might want to take a look at:
 
This short video about approach and avoid goals:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVVwpPRT2GY
 
 
The power of one-on-one conversations in coaching:
 
https://studysites.corwin.com/highimpactinstruction/videos/v1.2.htm
 
 
Instant mood-boosters:
 
https://aestheticsofjoy.com/2020/10/17/8-quick-things-you-can-do-right-now-to-boost-your-mood/
 
 
The intricacies of learning to write using mentor texts:
 
https://choiceliteracy.com/article/the-beauty-of-imitation/
 
 
Microteaching as a coaching process to support teacher (and student) growth:
 
https://www.edthena.com/visible-learning-micro-teaching-2-ways/
 
 
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
 
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Want more coaching tips? Check out my book, Differentiated Mentoring & Coaching in Education: From Preservice Teacher to Expert Practitioner, available from Teachers College Press!  I’m so excited to share it with you! TODAY you can use the code: FDNS24 for 20% off! Click  here  and I’ll email you the free Book Group Study Guide that includes questions, prompts, and activities you can use as you share the book with colleagues.  I hope you’ll love this book as much as I loved making it for you!