Pain Points and Praise Points as Possibilities for Instructional Coaching

Pain Points

 
On a recent hike, I felt a pain in my heel each time I stepped forward. I was with a group and didn’t want to step off the trail, so for a while, I just kept going. But the pain was persistent and worsening, so I eventually stopped, sat on a rock, and took off my shoe to investigate. Unsurprisingly, there was a tiny thorn in my shoe. When I dumped my shoe and put it back on, there was no more stabbing in my heel.
 
Like finding the thorn in my shoe, getting to the root of a teaching pain point can offer relief. It can also be a springboard for growth. Pain is an opportunity to assess our current status and our potential for growth. It can be a catalyst for change. Coaches can help teachers take the time to acknowledge pain points, analyze them, figure out where the pain is coming from, and find solutions.
 
Getting at the root cause of a problem makes us wiser and more able to navigate future difficulties. Oftentimes, when we dive deep, we find a surprising undercurrent that leads to insight. I’ve lost track of the number of times a painful classroom management event led to coaching opportunities. At the root, we discovered lack of student engagement, so we planned opportunities for more-meaningful instruction: collaboration, discussion, hands-on activities, etc.
 
If we panic and run around trying to put out fires (addressing the symptom rather than the cause), the problem persists. But challenges, when examined, can sharpen knowledge, performance, and the future ability to address difficult situations. Out of struggle we can forge strength. Pain can be a path to progress. We’ve all experienced growing pain.
 
Praise Points
 
Thankfully, pain is not the only path toward growth! Praise can also foster progress. By offering praise, coaches utilize a strengths-based approach.
 
“Praise is like sunlight to warm the human spirit: we cannot flower and grow without it,” said psychologist Jess Lair.
 
Specific praise reinforces the use of effective teaching strategies. A teacher who hears, “The way you focused students on the learning objective and included self-assessment was outstanding!” is likely to intentionally include these practices as an ongoing part of his instruction.
 
When coaches praise, they shine a spotlight on things teachers do well, building their confidence and encouraging more of the same. What gets praised gets carried on. A coach I was talking with commented, “Praise gave her the recognition she needed to know what to continue.” Specific praise helps teachers determine what to hang on to. What we appreciate increases!
 
Specific, authentic praise also creates positive energy, broadens thinking, expands awareness, builds resilience, and bolsters self-efficacy. Self-efficacy supports resourceful problem-solving as teachers look for creative solutions to help students grow. As one teacher explained, “Praise gets me searching for new and innovative things on my own.” 
 
Pain Points and Praise Points

When coaches dig deep with teachers to get at the root of challenging situations, they foster ongoing growth. It seems ironic, but shining a light on successes can do the same. Being attuned to a teacher’s experiences, noticing how she responds to the experiences, and reflecting on your past successes with that teacher will help you navigate the path forward.
 
This week, you might want to take a look at:

Opening and closing routines:
 
https://www.edutopia.org/article/14-effective-opening-and-closing-routines-for-teachers/
 
What neuroscience does (and does not) tell us about teaching reading:
 
https://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/blog/what-does-brain-science-have-to-say-about-teaching-reading-does-it-matter
 
 
Making turn-and-talk more effective:
 
https://choiceliteracy.com/article/turn-and-talk-then-what/
 
 
The Collective Efficacy Cycle for teacher PD:
 
https://www.k12dive.com/spons/the-5-steps-of-a-collective-efficacy-cycle/650710/
 
 
Who are the quiet powerhouses in your classroom? Check out this Ted talk about the power of introverts for ideas:
 
https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts
 
 
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 still use the code: FEB2024 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!