The Convergence of Teaching and Coaching: Cultivating Motivation inthe Classroom

The traditional role of a teacher involves transmitting knowledge and facilitating skill development in students. Conversely, a coach is tasked with supporting and motivating their students through active listening, questioning, and posing challenges. While these roles may appear distinct, what if a teacher were to integrate coaching principles into the classroom, becoming both an educator and a motivator?

This concept was fundamental during the new edition of the course “Emotional intelligence and coaching inside the school and educational context” that took place in Tenerife from 02/09/2023 to 09/09/2023. The participants came from all across Europe, with  Lorraine from St. Monica School in Malta, Armando, Romeo, Elena, Raffaela, Chiara from CPIA Ancona in Italy, Monika from "Wichterlovo gymnázium, Ostrava-Poruba, příspěvková organizace" in Czech Republic, Valērijs and Randa from Liepaja Marine College in Latvia.

The course began with Coaching ourselves part. The participants explored their skills and checked which area of their life needs their attention in the moment in order to set a goal.

Next they moved to an exploration of Emotional Intelligence, which refers to the capacity to not only recognize our own emotions but also understand the emotions of others. This awareness enables a teacher to establish a connection with students, assisting them in managing their feelings effectively.

Coaching entails inspiring and guiding individuals to become the best versions of themselves. To enhance our coaching abilities, they delved into the concept of setting SMART goals. Participants were tasked with defining SMART goals for themselves, ensuring they were Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

The course also delved into the potent influence of questions. Questions have the unique ability to stimulate thinking, self-reflection, constructive responses, and action, fostering idea development. As part of this course, participants explored the art of constructing learning-focused questions. This process began with an invitation to engage, presented thought-provoking content, and highlighted a cognitive focus for thinking and elaboration. Later using the GROW model, they tried to do their first coaching session, in order to understand how it really works.

Another critical coaching skill, relevant in any setting, including the classroom, is conflict management. Self-awareness and emotional control play pivotal roles in preventing the escalation of conflicts. Contrary to conventional belief, conflicts need not be inherently negative; they can serve as catalysts for growth and positive outcomes. As coaches, our role is to facilitate dialogues and support students in finding their solutions. It is crucial to note that a coach's function is not to impose solutions but rather to guide the analysis of the conflict, aid in decision-making, and evaluate behavior.

Throughout this training week, participants had the opportunity to share their collective experiences and draw insights from their diverse cultural backgrounds. They honed their coaching skills and discovered practical ways to apply them effectively in their classrooms.

Discover more about this course here.