Recently I was at a conference where we looked at the similarities and differences between differentiated instruction and differentiated coaching. I found this to be an interesting conversation as I have felt that coaching must be differentiated for every client we work with to be successful. As we got deeper into the conversation it became quite apparent that the similarities were ample but the differences were harder to find. We sifted through the similarities - focus on strengths/needs of the client, individual planning for each client, client is the centre, engage client through learning style, provide choice for the client, support and facilitate learning to allow for inquiry and insight for the client but we continued to struggle finding the differences.
Then the light shone down on us...with differentiated instruction the teacher has an essential understanding that students will be working toward. They provide a learning environment for students to explore learning. With differentiated coaching, the client-coachee has the purpose or outcome for which they would like to have coaching support. The coach "drives the bus" to facilitate and assist the coachee in reflection to move forward in their plan of action and grow in their learning.
What is your view of differentiated coaching?
I think it is the same. Teachers, administrators, district administrators and superintendents are all working towards the same goal/outcome. The goals are set at the division level, then schools align with the division and teachers align with the school. The coach helps learners meet their needs and meets them where they are at and helps them move forward.
ReplyDeleteWe are all learners moving forward, working towards our goals. :)
Differentiated coaching meets the needs of teachers at their level and when they are ready. Is it the same for everyone in the school, in the division or in the province? No and it should not be. Nice blog.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed the conversation around Differentiated Coaching vs Differentiated Instruction. As teachers, are we not as well coaches? Leading our students to firmly grasp the outcomes and goals? Coaching teachers it looks very much the same as coaching students. Leading teachers to firmly grasp an understanding and practice of their outcomes and goals. We are all at different places in our lives. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. Coaching like teaching is about finding those strengths within a person and challenging them to use those strengths. Loved the strengths assessment that followed this discussion.
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