Coaches, Fix Your Face

The last couple of weeks, I’ve been doing lots of classroom observations. I love feeling the energy and presence of the students, whether it’s kindergartners or high-schoolers. Observation has refilled my educator soul. It has also given me lots of opportunities to fix my face.
 
Here’s what I mean. When I’m observing in a classroom, I get super-focused on the details. I want to take it all  in – and there’s a lot to take in! I am watching and listening to both the teacher and the students. I am scanning the walls and the floors, noticing the charts and the assignment that just fell under the desk. All this while taking mad notes that I can refer to later. It’s a lot! And sometimes my face shows it.
 
Even though I can’t see myself, I can feel the sternness of my expression as I focus. Inside I’m feeling energized and happy, but my face – well, it is so focused that the inner smile (or not) doesn’t make it to the surface. Whether the lesson is rolling along smoothly or has hit a wall, though, it will serve me, the teacher, and the students best if I fix my face and wear a pleasant expression.
 
You’re Not Invisible
 
Even though I try to slip into the classroom quietly without causing a stir, and I usually sit quietly out-of-the-way without interfering, my presence is felt in the classroom. This week, I saw lots of sideways glances from students. When I had a smile, they softened; sometimes they returned the smile, but always their brow relaxed. This was also true of teachers. Usually, they were trying to ignore me and go about their business of attending to students, but they knew I was there. They felt me in the room. And there were furtive glances to check in on me. If I didn’t look pleasant, they felt they had cause to worry. Even though we’d established that these were not evaluative observations, teachers can’t help but feel judged when someone is watching. So I needed to keep reminding myself to fix my face.
 
Your Face is Feedback
 
When teachers or students take that quick look at you during a lesson observation, your face is feedback. A furrowed brow or clenched jaw, even if it came from just thinking hard, could unintentionally signal trouble. It interrupts the lesson’s flow, just a bit, if teacher or students pause to think, “What is going on here?” Even a straight face can read as judgment.
 
A relaxed expression or smile, on the other hand, reads as, “I’m here to learn with you.” A pleasant face offers psychological safety. It offers calm (even if there is a bit of chaos!). For the coaching relationship, a pleasant face maintains trust. It reduces potential performance anxiety.  
 
Students, too, take cues from body language. They are attuned to the emotional signals being sent. If the coach looks tense, they may feel uneasy or distracted. They become guarded. But a pleasant expression supports student engagement, allowing you to see what you came to see – an authentic learning experience.
 
Outward Impacts Inward
 
An interesting, scientifically-proven fact is that when we smile, we begin to feel happier. There must be some muscle connection between the brain and the upturned lips! Our outward expression shapes our inward posture. Wiping off a frown can improve our disposition and enhance our curiosity. And curiosity, of course, is an important coaching mindset!
 
Softening your face during an observation can soften your stance, too. Judgement is released as jaws are unclenched. Instead of evaluation or frustration, we can recognize nuance and opportunities for learning – for the students, the teacher, and ourselves.
 
Partnership, Not Perfection
 
Because a soft face signals curiosity, it enhances partnership. We don’t expect perfection in any lesson, and our face should acknowledge that. There’s a whole range of teaching moments, and we’re there for all of them. We expect complexity. Say it when you have a chance, and show it in your face. This message matters, especially when working with teachers who are still building their confidence.
 
When a coach’s expression is open, it conveys alliance – we are in this together. We nonverbally communicate cohesion and respect. We trust the teacher’s professionalism, even when things aren’t going as planned. A coach’s soft expression helps the teacher stay present in the moment, thinking about their instruction and their students’ response to it. We are in it together. We are engaged in shared inquiry of practice.
 
When observing, you are collecting experiences that will later be reflected on collaboratively. This observation is not a silent evaluation, it is a shared experience that will allow you to learn together during later conversations. A welcoming face maintains partnership.
 
Keep Fixing Your Face
 
Because coaches want to take in everything, our faces can sometimes harden. It isn’t an intentional judgement – it’s a physical response to intense focus. That’s why we may need to keep fixing our face throughout a classroom observation. When I fix my face, I send the message that I am honoring the complexity of teaching and learning.
 
My face communicates the kind of coach I intend to be. When I manage my expression, I can signal respect, curiosity, and shared ownership of the work. A calm, pleasant expression supports students, reassures the teacher, and keeps me oriented toward partnership rather than judgment.
 
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Did you know My Coaches Couch is also a podcast? (with different content) Find it in your favorite podcast app or at MyCoachesCouch.podbean.com
 
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This week, you might want to take a look at:

Use priming language to set the stage for learning:
 
https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-priming-words-engage-students
 
 
Help students find ideas by (re)connecting with the actual, physical world:
 
https://ccira.blog/2025/12/15/writing-ideas-keeping-it-real/
 
 
Ideas for indoor recess:
 
https://www.learnersedge.com/blog/fresh-ideas-for-indoor-recess
 
 
Conversations after finishing a read aloud:
 
https://choiceliteracy.com/article/whole-class-conversations-for-read-aloud-closure/
 
 
Ways to say “Thank You” to teachers:
 
https://www.mshouser.com/instructional-coaching/a-few-ways-to-say-thank-you-to-teachers
 
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
 
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! You can use the code: JAN2026 for 15% 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!