Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does Real Time Teacher Coaching Work?
RTTC coaching happens usually happens in 3-6 cycles of coaching. This usually means coaching 2 cycles per week for 2-3 weeks (with at least a day between cycles.) Each cycle includes three 20 minute parts that happen all within the same day. Between each cycle, you will receive 1-3 pieces of homework to work on for the next cycle.
This 3 part cycle occurs twice a week, for up to three weeks. It begins the first week of each month and concludes by the third week of that same month.
2. Would you (the coach) be talking in my ear the whole time?
No, I will only coach in your classroom for 20 minutes. During the pre-conferences, we practice and develop shared cues, so that I am giving you cues on what to do (for example, narrate is a cue). If it is needed, or if you prefer, I will give you lines (For example, Chris is talking in a 6 inch voice with his partner). We will figure out what is best for you. I won’t talk when you are talking, I will try not to talk when you are listening to students. I will do my best to find pauses. If I see I throw off your thinking, I will give you a little bit of time to get back on track.
3. Will you be in the classroom while coaching?
Yes, I will be sitting in the back of the classroom where I can see all of your students.
4. Will the students hear you? Or know that you are coaching on management?
I do my best to make sure they do not. I cover my mouth if I am close to them. There have been only a few times, when I had to sit with students given the space of the room, but I talked to them about it and they’ve all been ok with it. Once I did have a student ask if I could tell the teacher to give the class a point because everyone was following the directions :). Students don’t know that I am coaching on classroom management unless you tell them. Some students might figure it out given some of the changes they’ll see on your end, but if you are consistent when I leave, they won’t be able to tell.
5. What will my students think?
Your students won’t mind, as long as you don’t try to hide the walkie-talkie. It will be obvious. What you will tell them is, “Just like a quarterback has a coach in his ear, I have a coach in mine. I am trying to be the best teacher for you. If you have questions you can ask me after class.” This normalizes the idea of having a coach in your ear. In doing so you also model for students how you want them to do what it takes to improve their own practice. I have never been in a classroom where the walkie has been more of a distraction than the students’ behavior in class. The only time where it did become an issue was when the teacher did not tell the students why I was there.
6. What if I can’t concentrate on all the things I have to do with having someone in my ear?
As a teacher, there are a ton of decisions you have to make at any given time. Where do you stand, what do you say, which students are with you, etc. I am there to help you prioritize that thinking so that 100% of students are with you.
7. Is this anything like Real Time Coaching at Institute/Cue Card Coaching at institute?
Unless you had a walkie-talkie in your ear, or a certified real time coach working you, then this is different. Some people at institute received cue-card coaching. This can be challenging because it’s not always clear communication and it can take away from your concentration if you aren’t looking at the back. While there are a lot of benefits to this cue-card coaching, Real Time Coach has been proven much more effective.
8. Does this work for special education classrooms?
Yes, like all classrooms, you need to know your students. So you will need to know if they react to their name being called, what is in their IEP etc. Ultimately we hold our students to high expectations, if they have an IEP, that means we might need to give them different support to help them meet those expectations. Depending on your classroom and/or given your students’ needs, I might spend time in your classroom before I coach, in case the students need to know more about who I am. This is a case-by-case basis, but ultimately it’s about being the coach that YOU need, so you can be the best teacher for YOUR students.
9. Can I talk to someone else who has done coaching before I sign up?
Yes! Please email [email protected] and I will email you back with someone to contact. In the meantime, check out the testimonials from CMs who were RTC'ed during 2013-2014 here
Do you have a question that isn’t answered here? send us an email on the contact page
RTTC coaching happens usually happens in 3-6 cycles of coaching. This usually means coaching 2 cycles per week for 2-3 weeks (with at least a day between cycles.) Each cycle includes three 20 minute parts that happen all within the same day. Between each cycle, you will receive 1-3 pieces of homework to work on for the next cycle.
- Part 1: Pre-conference – The purpose of this is for us to work together to ensure we have a strong coaching session and to do follow up from the previous session..
- Part 2: Coaching – This is where I will sit in your classroom and you will have an ear piece and I will coach you in real time. I will use cues
- Part 3: Debrief – We will talk through how the coaching went, what went well, and talk through 1-2 next steps. This has to happen the same day as coaching.
This 3 part cycle occurs twice a week, for up to three weeks. It begins the first week of each month and concludes by the third week of that same month.
2. Would you (the coach) be talking in my ear the whole time?
No, I will only coach in your classroom for 20 minutes. During the pre-conferences, we practice and develop shared cues, so that I am giving you cues on what to do (for example, narrate is a cue). If it is needed, or if you prefer, I will give you lines (For example, Chris is talking in a 6 inch voice with his partner). We will figure out what is best for you. I won’t talk when you are talking, I will try not to talk when you are listening to students. I will do my best to find pauses. If I see I throw off your thinking, I will give you a little bit of time to get back on track.
3. Will you be in the classroom while coaching?
Yes, I will be sitting in the back of the classroom where I can see all of your students.
4. Will the students hear you? Or know that you are coaching on management?
I do my best to make sure they do not. I cover my mouth if I am close to them. There have been only a few times, when I had to sit with students given the space of the room, but I talked to them about it and they’ve all been ok with it. Once I did have a student ask if I could tell the teacher to give the class a point because everyone was following the directions :). Students don’t know that I am coaching on classroom management unless you tell them. Some students might figure it out given some of the changes they’ll see on your end, but if you are consistent when I leave, they won’t be able to tell.
5. What will my students think?
Your students won’t mind, as long as you don’t try to hide the walkie-talkie. It will be obvious. What you will tell them is, “Just like a quarterback has a coach in his ear, I have a coach in mine. I am trying to be the best teacher for you. If you have questions you can ask me after class.” This normalizes the idea of having a coach in your ear. In doing so you also model for students how you want them to do what it takes to improve their own practice. I have never been in a classroom where the walkie has been more of a distraction than the students’ behavior in class. The only time where it did become an issue was when the teacher did not tell the students why I was there.
6. What if I can’t concentrate on all the things I have to do with having someone in my ear?
As a teacher, there are a ton of decisions you have to make at any given time. Where do you stand, what do you say, which students are with you, etc. I am there to help you prioritize that thinking so that 100% of students are with you.
7. Is this anything like Real Time Coaching at Institute/Cue Card Coaching at institute?
Unless you had a walkie-talkie in your ear, or a certified real time coach working you, then this is different. Some people at institute received cue-card coaching. This can be challenging because it’s not always clear communication and it can take away from your concentration if you aren’t looking at the back. While there are a lot of benefits to this cue-card coaching, Real Time Coach has been proven much more effective.
8. Does this work for special education classrooms?
Yes, like all classrooms, you need to know your students. So you will need to know if they react to their name being called, what is in their IEP etc. Ultimately we hold our students to high expectations, if they have an IEP, that means we might need to give them different support to help them meet those expectations. Depending on your classroom and/or given your students’ needs, I might spend time in your classroom before I coach, in case the students need to know more about who I am. This is a case-by-case basis, but ultimately it’s about being the coach that YOU need, so you can be the best teacher for YOUR students.
9. Can I talk to someone else who has done coaching before I sign up?
Yes! Please email [email protected] and I will email you back with someone to contact. In the meantime, check out the testimonials from CMs who were RTC'ed during 2013-2014 here
Do you have a question that isn’t answered here? send us an email on the contact page