Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Written by: Jen Rasmussen - CESA 4 Literacy Specialist and Instructional Service Director
Do you have a framework for coaching? It is advantageous for a school or district to finish developing a coaching framework for a number of reasons. A framework provides a structured approach to coaching, ensuring that there is a clear process and methodology in place. This structure helps coaches, teachers, and administrators understand their roles and responsibilities, which can foster a stronger sense of commitment. It also improves the organization and efficiency of the implementation process. A framework ensures consistency in coaching practices across different teachers and classrooms. When all coaches follow the same framework, there is uniformity in the coaching process, which leads to standardized support for teachers because there are clear goals and objectives. In addition to outlining the goals and objectives of the coaching program, having clear goals and objectives can facilitate the measurement of progress and success. Ultimately, implementing a coaching framework can ensure that best practices are used in an orderly, goal-oriented, and consistent manner, which will ultimately improve teaching methods and student outcomes.
Recently, the Coaching Chronicles featured the Coaching System Development Worksheet, which was adapted from the National Implementation Research Network. This tool outlines key activities to guide teams through implementing each stage of the process. It can be quite technical in nature and a bit difficult to navigate. As a response, the Guide to Creating and Determining a Coaching Framework was developed.
This complementary tool includes guiding questions to support teams as they articulate what coaching would look and sound like in their setting. Links in the guide include learning tools and examples to support consensus as a team builds their coaching system. It adds an element of "humanity" into the original worksheet allowing teams and practitioners to ask critical and relevant questions related to each step. The tool is meant to serve as a learning log and a space to customize and capture thinking from a team. It can act as a common and shared document so coaches and others are clear about what coaches are doing and what they are not doing - all organized into the implementation stages.
Consider how your school or district could adopt and adapt the Creating and Determining a Coaching Framework document to design a concise explanation of what coaching support entails.