Learn why being courageous is a must-have skill for any coach; a few tips for staying resilient while working remotely; how TeachBoost Coach makes it easy for ICs to stay organized, manage video conferencing, and build relationships; and more. Enjoy! 😁

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Guide: Remote Coaching with TeachBoost Coach

TeachBoost's own, Dave Reid, is back with a few ways coaches can stay organized, manage video conferencing, and build relationships as school buildings stay closed.

"With so many new instructional techniques being thrown at teachers, now more than ever teachers need a coach's support. . . . Work packets, online portals, and new expectations for teaching can easily get scattered about, making it difficult to track. Bringing all of these items under one roof, via our 'Resources' and 'Evidence' sections in the TeachBoost Coaching Cycle, coaches and teachers are able to stay connected and on the same page at all times."

Coaching in the Time of COVID-19

Fiona Hurtado reflects on her remote coaching journey so far and how voice notes have helped her to stay engaged with her teachers.

"As teaching moved from classrooms to living rooms, we began to face more personal challenges. . . . I wanted people to know I was here, managing the day at home and thinking about them. I wanted to do more than say 'Let me know if there's anything you need,' because we are hard-wired to shrug it off politely. I wanted to ask 'What do you need today?' 'How are you feeling?' and 'What have you been thinking about?' It's exactly how it starts in school after a break —and maybe these things are what matter now more than ever."

Keeping the Focus on Learning

Steve Barkley provides a few questions that coaches should ask teachers to help them design, deliver, and reflect on distance teaching.

"The current disruption of schooling as normal may be providing an opportunity to further build a focus on standards-based teaching and grading. When pushed, can we identify clearly the desired learning outcome? . . . As a coach supporting teachers currently, the thought in my mind is, ' Learning trumps curriculum.'"

Courage

Vicki Collet suggests that when coaches take more risks and find ways to manage their fears, they can become better coaches.

"To be courageous, we have to master our emotional response to fear. . . . When stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions start to run strong, it takes courage to move forward. We demonstrate courage when we align our actions with the meaning we attach to our work, when we voice our vision even when challenged by the response."

Coaching during a Crisis: Advice from Experts

Suzanne Bouffard offers eight tips for ICs on how they can be resilient while working remotely.

"Coaches are poised to help, but have questions of their own, including how to connect meaningfully with educators in the absence of face-to-face communication. . . . Reach out to your networks, both in and outside of your district–for example, through Learning Forward and other professional associations–for instrumental and emotional support. No matter how busy we are right now, we all feel isolated and overwhelmed."

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