Transforming Teaching through Coaching

The role of a teacher traditionally involves imparting knowledge to students and aiding them in developing certain skills and abilities. Conversely, a coach's role is to support and motivate their pupils by actively listening, asking questions, and challenging them. While these roles may appear distinct, imagine if a teacher integrated coaching principles into the classroom, becoming not only an educator but also a motivator.
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This idea was central to the latest edition of the course “Emotional Intelligence and Coaching in the School and Educational Context,” held in Tenerife from 25/08/2024 till 31/08/2024. Participants came from various parts of Europe, including Chrystelle  and Morgane from Institut de la Providence Champion in Belgium; Giuseppina from IIS MATTEI in Italy, Adeline from Lycée la Versoie in France, Milan from Vienna Business School Akademiestrasse in Austria, Edda from BG Georgigasse  in Austria, Noemi, Fabiola, Marilisa, Lorella and Michela from IC VELLETRI NORD in Italy, Teresa and Laura from Secondary school LANDI in Italy.

The course's first focus was Emotional Intelligence, which refers to the ability to recognize not only our own emotions but also those of others, fostering self-awareness and a deeper understanding of our environment. A teacher with emotional intelligence can connect with students by understanding their emotions and aiding them in managing their feelings.

Coaching involves motivating and guiding someone to reach their fullest potential. To enhance our skills, it’s crucial to learn how to set goals, specifically SMARTer goals. Participants were encouraged to set their own SMARTer goals following the criteria.
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The course also addressed the importance of questions. Well-crafted questions can stimulate thinking, encourage self-reflection, inspire constructive responses, and foster the development of ideas. Participants explored how to create learning-focused questions. 

Another essential coaching skill relevant in any setting, including the classroom, is conflict management. Self-awareness and emotional control are key to preventing conflicts from escalating. Conflicts need not always be negative; they can also lead to growth and positive outcomes. A coach's role is to help students engage in dialogue and assist them in resolving conflicts, guiding them through the analysis of the conflict, decision-making, and evaluating their behavior without directly suggesting solutions.

Throughout this week of training, participants shared experiences, learned from each other's diverse cultural backgrounds, enhanced their coaching skills, and discovered how to apply these skills in their classrooms.
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Discover more about this course here