Peer Coaching Dr Barbara Gottesman Chair retired Educational

Peer Coaching Dr. Barbara Gottesman Chair (retired), Educational Leadership Author of Peer Coaching for Educators

Purposes of Peer Coaching • Professionals on the same level observing each other • Improvement of teaching strategies • Improvement of analytical skills • Implementation of a new program • Refining skills

Mottos • • No praise, no blame. No judgment, no evaluation Dragnet’s Joe Friday: “Just the facts, ma’am!”

Internalization of New Learning research of Joyce and Showers THEORY Short term memory Long term memory 20% 5% DEMONSTRATION 35% 10% MODELING & 70% GUIDED PRACTICE 20% FEEDBACK 80% 25% COACHING 90%

Peer Coaching • 1. Request for a Visit • 2. The Visit • 3. Reflecting Alone: Coach reviews notes and list some possibilities & Teacher reviews intent of lesson plan • 4. Reflecting Together: The Talk after the Visit • 5. Debriefing: Process Review 14 Q & A

Checklist for 1. Request for a Visit • • • __ What do you want me to observe? __ specific concern defined __ coach narrows concern to observable __confidentiality established __no judgment or evaluation __ type of lesson, objective of lesson

Request for a Visit checklist • __data gathering device: both decide • __ seating chart • __location of observer • __time, place • __time for the Reflecting Together: Talk after the Visit

The Visit - Checklist • __request for observation written at top of page • __starting & ending time • __method used to gather data • __no judgment or evaluation

Reflecting Alone: the Coach reviews notes & lists possibilities • __ reviews data, deletes any comments • __decides how to present data gathered • __ lists 3 prompts on Coaching Form #1 to get peer to start talking • __ prompts to get peer to analyze data • __lists 3 possibilities for improvement (real coaching) if peer is ready (Coaching From #2)

Coaching Form #1 • This is what my peer asked me to observe: • _________________. • Probing questions to get peer to analyze data: • 1. _______________ • 2. _______________ • 3. _______________

Coaching Form #2 • Suggestions for improvement if my peer is ready for real coaching: • 1. _________________ • 2. _________________ • 3. _________________

Reflecting Together on Practice: The Talk after the Visit • __ seating arrangement • __opening statement: repeat Request • __ coach walks through the specific written data collected during the observation • __coach asked prepared probing questions • __ peer begins to analyze data

Talk after the Visit * Reflecting Together on Practice • __ no praise or blame • __coach continues probing questions until peer asks for suggestions for improvement • __coach verbalizes suggestions in nonjudgmental fashion • __coach and peer decide upon next steps

Debriefing: Process Review 14 Q & A • 1. Did the process work? Why? • 2. Who talked the most? Why? • 3. Were there any judgments or evaluations made? By whom? • 4. Did the process include praise or blame?

Debriefing……. • 5. Was the relevant data written down by the coach? • 6. Was the written data related to the Request? • 7. Did the coach’s probing questions lead the peer to analyze his own lesson?

Debriefing…… • 8. Would another data-gathering measure have been more effective? • 9. Will this session lead to improvement of instruction?

Debriefing…. • Who benefits most from coaching? • Will the peers exchange places and coach again?

Gradual Steps: Phase in Peer Coaching? • Peer Watching • Peer Feedback • Peer Coaching

Start with Peer Watching • • 1. Make 4 visits to another classroom 2. Record visits on calendar 3. No feedback 4. Video tape self 4 times……. and watch the tape! Great for novices and veterans!

Peer Feedback • 1. All involved go over rules and understandings for Peer Coaching • 2. Observe and record data 4 times. • 3. Share data and facts. • 4. No coaching: just the facts: ma’m!

True Peer Coaching • Review rules of Peer Coaching • Establish trust and confidentiality • Do 4 exchanges with feedback of recorded data AND suggestions for improvement…. which is true coaching.

Advanced Coaching • Costa & Garmston, Cognitive Coaching • Content Coaching • Real - Time Peer Coaching