For teachers, it can be challenging to see potential in students when they can’t realise it themselves.
Positive learning isn’t just about what they study but building their confidence and creating an inclusive learning environment where their potential is nurtured and celebrated.
For the best learning experience, students need to feel safe, comfortable, happy and receptive to learning.
Creating this positive learning environment is much easier when adopting a coaching approach.
So as a teacher, what can you do to get more out of your students?
Three Ways to Integrate Coaching in Your Classroom
1. Help students set self-defined goals
Many teachers will begin a class with a learning goal. However, this goal isn’t defined by the students.
Creating long and short-term goals for your class can help students feel like they’re in control of their learning and motivation.
In addition, it is a great way to recognise and celebrate progress. Students may set longer-term goals at the start of the term or the academic year.
Short-term goals may be for individual lessons, weeks or months.
Ask questions such as;
- What would you like to accomplish this year/term/lesson?
- What are the good, better and best improvements you could make this term?
- What difference would it make to you if you accomplished this goal?
- What can you do to help you achieve this goal?
2. Facilitate peer coaching
Building empathy and support between students can help foster a great learning environment and vital lifelong soft skills.
To do this, it is important to lay the groundwork.
This means helping children to learn more about active listening (so the other person feels heard), non-judgemental responding (understanding that everyone is different) and asking open questions (to help people come up with their own solutions).
In class, a ten-minute peer coaching discussion for a subject could be:
- What’s gone really well for you this week?
- What’s been the biggest challenge for you in this lesson?
- What advice would you give to someone in the same position as you?
Letting students discuss this in pairs can give them a place to be heard and a safe environment in which to share.
3. Feedback and self-reflection
Feedback can be vital to help students understand their strengths, progress and areas of development too.
Therefore, cultivating a culture where feedback is welcomed rather than feared is important in a positive learning environment.
As well as teacher and peer feedback, self-reflection can also be a valuable skill for students to learn.
Encouraging students to keep a journal throughout the academic year can help them to evaluate their progress.
Also, at the end of each class, you may encourage self-reflection by asking reflective questions.
This could be:
- What did you learn today?
- What would you have liked to have done differently?
- Which of your strengths helped you with this work?
Each of these three activities does not need a huge amount of time.
We know that lesson time is limited! But, carving out 5-10 minutes and integrating these techniques regularly throughout your classes can help to foster a coaching environment for your student.
Why Is This Important For Your Classroom?
Creating a more open culture for communication makes it easier for students to reach out if they’re struggling with a topic or ask their peers for help.
They can also help children build their growth mindset, confidence and self-awareness, making all the difference in their studies and their future.
If you’re looking for more support using coaching in your classroom or think 1:1 coaching would benefit your students, reach out to head coach Karen for a no-obligation chat on how coaching can support your classroom.