When you don't feel effective...

I think one of the hardest things about being a coach is that you don't necessarily see this quick application of your work. As a teacher, you would work with a student on a strategy and see the work they produce or the conferences you have with them and be able to assess whether your students are learning. With coaching, it is not that straightforward. A lot of it depends on the teacher as well as what we are focusing on. Will they take our conversation and apply it? Do they agree with what I'm saying? Did our debrief session help them? I found myself today recognizing that I, at least, intentionally ask those questions. "What are you hearing? How are you feeling about what I just said? What does this mean to you?" But at the same time, I had this moment with RW. We were talking about her class this morning....her class was engaged in group work, differentiated based off of their midterm outcomes. It was a great sight...my biggest push was for her to spend some time with the kids during these "off" days. I was trying to unpack the idea that sometimes we "coast" and during those times it's good to let ourselves go a little and allow ourselves to sit with your students, both instructionally but also to build rapport. She seemed a bit dismayed when I said this to her...and i will admit, i felt like i had failed a little. and i need to unpack why. i think part of me sometimes really wants to say the right thing. but then its about what the right thing is. is the right thing what the teacher wants to hear? i would say no because then there would be no point in the coaching. but then what is it that makes the conversation productive? after doing this for the past 5 months...i think in the end its providing honest pushes, being able to provide context for it, and then tangible steps. but even so, it is still inevitably hard for me when i feel like my teachers are frustrated and i dont have "the answer." or when i push them on something that they may not necessarily see as the priority (which is what happened today). but do i feel like it's important? yes. so then do i push? i think my response is yes..because i know it will support her in the long run as she develops into a strong, effective teacher.... sigh.