Character Traits for Teaching and Coaching

Character traits are a helpful way to understand novels, and they’re also a helpful way to think about the mindsets or ways of being that make an effective teacher. There are habits of mind that seem natural for good teachers. These ways of being effect interactions with students, colleagues, parents, and school leaders. As novice teachers grow into the teachers they want to be, these are attributes to cultivate. Experienced teachers may get worn-down and be ready for an attitude adjustment, too.
 
The dispositions that teachers should demonstrate include:

      ·       a positive attitude
·       a belief that all students can learn
·       effective and appropriate communication
·       courtesy, respect, and civility
·       inclusive behaviors
·       sensitivity
·       passion for learning
·       solution-seeking
·       self-regulation
·       perseverance
·       flexibility
·       reflectiveness
·       commitment
·       engagement
·       ethical thinking
·       sound judgment
·       positive attitude
·       belief that all students can learn
·       openness to receiving feedback

As in other parts of teaching, coaches can be there to strengthen these character traits. Modeling is an effective way to draw attention to teaching dispositions. When I talked with Samantha, an experienced coach, about character traits that support effective instruction, she added to the above list: silliness, fun, and energy on the teacher’s part that enhances students’ participation. An engaging teacher can increase the odds of students’ participation and cognitive engagement. Samantha believes this element enhances the culture of the classroom, too, so she planned to make this element clear in her modeling and then “pull out things where I discuss that energy piece” during the debrief conversation.

Another coach said, “It’s about how I speak to kids. That’s another part of modeling – the rapport she sees, the relationships with kids, the way I respond, the way I react to student behavior. It’s a big part of the modeling.” Another said, “She sees what my expectations are, what is acceptable, what is not.” Coaches said these intangibles get noticed during modeling, and often the teacher brings them up unsolicited during a debrief conversation. One coach noted, “I model respect for the kids, and she has commented on that. I don’t raise my voice. It’s just my demeanor. I think maybe that set her at ease, too.” The dispositions you exhibit can be an important sidebar to the instructional strategies in a modeled lesson.
 
The same dispositions that made you an effective teacher constitute your effectiveness as a coach. The supportive relationships you established in your classroom are critical in your coaching. The high-expectations you had for your students are also needed for the teachers you are working with. By displaying these attributes in your work with teachers and drawing attention to them when you model in the classroom, coaches cultivate characteristics that enhance all aspects of teachers’ professional interactions. 

This week, you might want to take a look at:
 
The power of one-on-one conversations for understanding students:
 
https://choiceliteracy.com/article/self-esteem-and-literacy-understanding-jeff/
 
 
Students must not only learn to read, they should love to read:
 
https://www.edutopia.org/article/developing-love-reading-students/
 
 
Using Post-its to support discussion:
 
https://www.learnersedge.com/nudge-learning/post-its-little-notes-for-big-discussion
 
 
Benefits of incorporating movement:
 
http://www.medicaldaily.com/fun-exercise-boost-kids-attention-school-performance-all-it-takes-4-minutes-308922
 
 
Improving executive function:
 
http://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/Teaching/TeaDet/TabId/203/ArtMID/833/ArticleID/298/Looking-at-Executive-Function.aspx
 
That’s it for this week. Happy Coaching!
 
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Hooray!!! My new book, Differentiated Mentoring & Coaching in Education: From Preservice Teacher to Expert Practitioner is a fall release from Teachers College Press!  I’m so excited to share it with you! During November, you can use the code: NOV2022 for 15% off plus FREE SHIPPING. 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!
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