The Best myTeachstone Resources for Coaches

Coaches come from a wide variety of backgrounds, jobs, and educational experiences. You may have “coach” in your job title, use a specific coaching model, and have received formal coach-training; on the other hand, “coaching” may be a less official part of your role but you may often find yourself supporting teachers and colleagues.

Wherever you fall on the continuum of experiences, if you support teachers, then you could probably use a little support yourself as you strive to be the best mentor you can be.

Here is a list of common questions and concerns we hear from coaches, and some of our favorite myTeachstone resources that can help!  

I’m new to coaching. How should I get started?

• Course series: Strengths-Based Coaching (15 min/course)
• Start with Strengths-Based Coaching: An Introduction
• Articles
• What to Know if You’re New to CLASS--Parallel Process
• Building a Foundation for Effective Coaching
  
  

“I’m fairly new to CLASS. How can I beef up my CLASS knowledge (or just refresh myself on a specific dimension)?”

• Course Series: Learn About [CLASS Dimension] (15 min/course)
• Start with the Learn About Positive Climate course, or use the search bar to find and work through more CLASS dimensions and age levels (available for Infant, Toddler, and Pre-K).
  
  

I feel pretty good about my CLASS knowledge, but I’m a little shaky on Instructional Support.

• Course Series: Instructional Support Strategies (15-20 min/course)
  • Concept Development Essentials: Defining the Dimension
  • Quality of Feedback Essentials: Defining the Dimension
  • Language Modeling Essentials: Defining the Dimension
• Articles
  • Is it Rote or Does it Promote?
  • Don’t Feed the Bears, But DO provide Quality of Feedback to Children
• Videos
  • Clarifying a Teacher’s Understanding of Advanced Language (1 min)
  • Using Back-and-forth exchanges to Promote Reflection on Language (3 min)
    
    

My teacher was just observed on the CLASS--what should I do next?

• Course series: Feedback Strategies  (20 min/course)
• Start with Feedback Strategies: Score Sharing and Focus
• Articles
  • Guidelines for Sharing Observations
  • How Do You Set Goals for Teachers?
• Video
  • Using Observations to Encourage and Affirm a Teacher’s Practice (3 min)
    
    

Strengths-based coaching sounds good in theory, but how can I apply this in a way that actually addresses what teachers need to improve?

• Course Series: Strengths-Based Coaching (15 min/course)
  • Start with Strengths-based Coaching: An Introduction
• Articles
  • Coaching Tip: Building on Teacher’s Strengths
  • The Open-Faced Sandwich and the Power of Negative Feedback
    
    

How can I use teacher data to individualize my support for teachers?

• Course Series: Using Data To Support Teachers (30-40 min/course)
• Start with: Using Data To Support Teachers: Teacher Surveys
• Article
  • Data-Driven Professional Development: What’s All The Buzz About?
    

I’m wearing two hats: director and coach. Help!

• Articles
  • Supervisor or Coach: Which Hat Are You Wearing?
  • Building a Foundation for Effective Coaching
    
    

We hope you’ll engage in these resources and apply what you learn to your coaching practice--but don’t stop here--there are many more coaching-focused resources in myTeachstone!

Did we miss any coaching challenges or fail to mention one of your favorite myTeachstone resources? Let us know. Join the CLASS Learning Community and start the discussion today.