The Amazing Adventures of Student-Centered Coaching!

Bobbi Campbell contributed today's post.

The Amazing Adventures of Student-Centered Coaching - Featuring, Diane Sweeney!

Interactive Blog Series by Bobbi Campbell

Diane gives new meaning to the word practical.  Unassuming, she arrives and begins a discussion, using her realistic research to engage Madison Instructional Coaches.

Diane Sweeney, Student-Centered Coaching Guru, is an educator, mother, friend, and Professional Developer.  Although, I have not personally established a close friendship with Diane, as an audience member, you feel as if you are in her kitchen with a strong cup of coffee discussing and solving the problems we encounter as educators.

Our district jourrney began with Diane  in the Spring of 2014, as we forged a partnership with the Universityof Wisconsin, Madison. Through research and support by the UW, we finally decided that student-centered coaching was indeed the model for us.  In September, Diane began our first coaching session with a comparison of three coaching models: Student-Centered, Teacher-Centered, and Relationship-Driven Coaching.

What do you think the differences are among the three models listed? (Use the link, page 7)

As we investigated where we as coaches felt most comfortable, we discovered that most of us had been operating as relationship-driven coaches.  What is wrong with forming relationships with the teachers you coach?  That is what I was thinking the first time I looked at the chart located on page 7 of her book, Student-Centered Coaching at the Secondary-Level.
So, what could possibly be wrong with this type of model?
Of course there is nothing wrong with forming relationships, but if we stay there and never move forward, therein lies the problem. The bottom line is, if we want more impact on student achievement, we need to focus on student learning targets. Next, we need to analyze student work to analyze progress, design instruction based on formative data and select appropriate text and technology as a tool for moving kids on the continuum of the learning progression.  Whew!  We can do all of this alone, but what if we had a thinking partner?  That is what student-centered coaching is all about - partnering with a focus on student data.  Next interactive blog will focus on Coaching Teachers to Assess and Deliver.