What teachers are hoping for...
- Co-planning & co-teaching
This allows teachers to step out and do something a little more risky, knowing that someone will be there to help them! - Observation/feedback/coaching
I love that people are willing to grow! An important distinction is that this is non-evaluative feedback. - Help in keeping up with tech trends, tools, & ideas; deciding what to purchase/implement
With so much out there, it is hard for teachers to keep track of it all, but they are interested in recommendations & ideas about what will give the most "bang for their buck"! - Sample resources
- Leading or co-leading PD in the building
What teachers do NOT want...
- To be told what to do
They know their curriculum, content, teaching style, & students best. Honor that! - To be taught about tech tools with no thought given to classroom integration
Context is everything - it might be a cool tool, but how does it apply in my classroom? - To feel judged
Not everybody is tech-savvy - and people need to know that it's okay! - Lack of communication or availability
- Doing it for them, rather than teaching them something new
Timing/Scheduling
Not surprisingly, teachers want to collaborate during time already built into their day. We may feel like 1:1 help is not as efficient, but it may be the best way to really meet a teacher's needs and create bigger ripples of change!
Final Thoughts
If nothing else came through clearly, this did...RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS! Building positive relationships is a crucial foundation to any other work being done. But that shouldn't be a surprise, right? It's the same with students.
Thank you so much for your feedback - I am carrying these ideas & perspectives with me as I head into my year. Hopefully they can help other tech coaches out there, too - feel free to share!
