A teacher's primary responsibility is to transfer knowledge to students and help them develop various skills and abilities. On the other hand, a coach's role is to support and motivate their pupils by listening, asking questions, and challenging them. Despite the apparent differences between these roles, what if a teacher applied coaching principles in the classroom to also become a motivator? This concept was central during the recent course “Coaching skills for teachers, school and adult education staff” held in Tenerife from 09/06/2024 to 15/06/2024. Participants came from all over Europe, including Līga, Edvīns and Arta from Vidzeme, representing a Technology and Design Vocational School in Latvia, and Fiona and Siobhan from Loreto Secondary School in Bray, Ireland. The first topic of discussion was Emotional Intelligence, which refers to the ability to recognize both one's own emotions and those of others, in order to be aware of ourselves and our surroundings. An emotionally intelligent teacher can understand their students' emotions, create connections, and assist them in managing their feelings. Coaching involves motivating and inspiring others to become the best versions of themselves. To improve these skills, participants learned to set SMART goals, which must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound objectives. Participants set their own SMART goals and adhered to these guidelines. During the course, we also focused on fostering a growth mindset and providing effective feedback. A growth mindset encourages students to embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and development, promoting resilience and perseverance. Teachers, acting as coaches, play a crucial role in cultivating this mindset by emphasizing effort and the belief in continuous improvement. Giving specific feedback helps students understand their strengths and areas for improvement, supporting ongoing growth in the classroom and enhancing student motivation and confidence.
Another course topic was the power of questions. Questions have the power to promote thinking and self-reflection, create constructive answers, and motivate actions and idea development. They encourage students to delve deeper into concepts and explore different perspectives, fostering critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. By incorporating effective questioning techniques, educators can stimulate engagement and active participation, thereby enriching the learning experience and empowering students to achieve academic success. This training week enabled participants to share their experiences and learn from their different cultural backgrounds while enhancing their coaching skills and learning how to apply them in their classrooms. Discover more about this course here. |
Welcome to the ELA Blog. Here you will find articles and photos of our courses and have a look at the topics addressed during the week in Bologna, Palermo and Tenerife. You will also have the chance to take a peek at our projects and check out what we have been up to.
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