Team+3

= = =**How does coaching help schools develop a culture of professionalism? **=


 * “…human resources- such as openness to improvement, trust and respect, teachers having knowledge and skills… and socialization- are…critical to the development of professional community…” (Newmann, 1994) **


 * There are seven essential standards that are needed in conjunction to optimize professionalism in the school culture: Reflective Dialogue, Deprivatization of Practice, Collaboration, Collective Focus on Student Learning, Shared Norms and Values, Structured Methodology, Connected to other Aspect of School Change. Members of the school community need to be able to collaborate with one another. Coaches use their communication and collaboration skills regularly. The Coaching Skills Cue Card helps coaches build trust and ownership by building good communication skills: listening, paraphrasing and questioning. A group of peer coach facilitators have found that “collaboration can increase the rigor and relevance of all lessons with minimal effort from all.” Teachers and coaches collaborate on lessons and student learning. Coaches assist teachers in focusing on student learning through the lesson improvement process. The process is as follows: Identify the task; Identify standards and assessment; Listing student steps and teacher notes; Integrating technology; Locating and utilizing resources. Using the Learning Activity Checklist, coaches and collaborating teachers are able to build high quality and student centered lessons. **


 * An idea for application in schools is using the Wow and Wonders protocol to increase positive peer feedback and to provide nonthreatening lesson improvement. Another idea is using peer coaching to increase the rigor and relevance of the lessons teachers develop, to positively effect student learning. **

Newmann, Fred M. " School-Wide Professional Community." //Issues in Restructuring Schools// 6 (1994): 3-6. Web. 30 Apr 2010. .