All text is © Martin Richards, Sweden 2022 unless otherwise stated. 2
an International School where he combined teaching with coaching. As part of his volunteer work, Martin has delivered inspirational talks to teenagers called ‘Choices to be proud of”. ABOUT THE AUTHOR, MARTIN RICHARDS During the final phase of his coaching career, he coached educators in Sweden on behalf of the Swedish government. Martin was trained at an experiential PCGE, Post Graduate Certificate of Education, teacher training course at Sussex University, UK, to be a Mathematics Teacher. Close to retirement, Martin wrote two books ‘Six Steps to a Coaching Classroom’ then ‘Six More Steps to a Coaching Classroom’, which were the inspiration in 2022 for the Steps Newsletter on LinkedIn. He taught at a Secondary School and a Primary School in the UK before he became an independent English trainer in Sweden. He was trained by CTI, the Coaches Training Institute, to be a Co-Active coach, gained the CPPC, Certified Professional Co-Active Coach certification and the ACC, Associate Certified Coach, credential. Those newsletters have been brought together in this revised ‘12 Action Steps to a Coaching Classroom’. 3
to reach out to teachers and remind them of the magical powers they have and encourages them to use it – to motivate and support their students in reaching their full potential. ABOUT THIS BOOK Martin wants to share what he has learned about teaching. Martin sees it as his mission to remind every school leader that they have a coach inside them too! He has taught Mathematics to teenagers and English to adults. He has owned an English education business for 30 years. He has coached executives and jobseekers. “I might not be able to pay teachers more money, or give them the public recognition they deserve for the amazing work that they do, but I can teach them about a coaching approach. And that will be my contribution to a better world.” He has coached educators and trained them to use coaching skills. Martin believes that, inside every educator, beats the heart of a coach. He writes about coaching in the education world. Martin Richards, Sweden, 2022. 4
• Love this theme of "alchemy" of serendipity. As educators, your article reminds me how important it is to create an open space... for the moment and learning. • Thank you for sharing. I am sure that coaching skills are soon a teacher's basic skills. • This is SO important to remember! Words are our matter - our shared worlds and understanding are built with words. We can both heal and hurt with our words - even more so as educators. Thanks for sharing, Martin! :) • Thanks Martin for sharing. This is another great resource to add to my portfolio. Simple things that can turn things around. This is a sample of what readers of the Steps to a Coaching Classroom Newsletter say about the articles: • This is such a great way to pass a message. I love how you weaved it all and I am sure this was not just an incident for your learners. • I completely agree with it. Learning by doing has a pivotal role in the classroom. • Thank you, Martín! Your newsletters are very interesting! • I actually love reading your newsletter. Thank you. 5
Love the questions you are asking students for self-evaluation! • Thank you. I really love constructive feedback and analyzing it. This trains my courage and performance. • I enjoyed the part you said Observation should be voluntary and there must be mutual understanding between the Observer and the teacher. • • • • I love your newsletters! Thank you Martin 6 I agree with you, Martin. Having a checklist is very important; it helps one stay on track and focus on the essential things; most of all, the environment for children should be safe, and learning should be fun. • Thank you. I ask every workshop student's forwardback. I like the question: What can I do differently next time? And I always get honest feedback. and see my blind corners. Hi Martin! I enjoyed reading your newsletter, and I have also noted your tips to be brave during lesson observations. Thanks for sharing, and I'm looking forward to reading your newsletter on Formative Assessment. Interesting
I love the peerevaluations with teachers. I have also found that when I invite students to give me written feedback during the day or at the end of the day, that too, is equally powerful. • Celebrating and shouting from the rafters of the power and impact of the heart-based support you are so purposed to give for Coaching in Education!! Thank you for your service! • Love this, I will definitely try using the Exit Slip in my class tomorrow although I use Formative assessment to evaluate the students and myself as the coach. Thank you. • This is so true Martin! Which is why coaching for me was a natural segue from education. We want the best from and for our students as we do for our clients! Thank you for sharing! • After 10 years of mentoring teachers earning their M.Ed. degrees in online universities, I still believe my most important words are: "How can I help you?" and "What can I do to make your learning easier today?" :) • I LIKE the ideas where I can coach? • So true! A balance between teaching and coaching skills lead to empowering experiences to both students and teachers! 7
Absolutely agree. Learning must not be a cozy-club. • Struggle, yes, take care not to over support especially working 1:1 with a pupil or young person • • The Socratic method works • Hello Martin, I really enjoy your posts! • I'm excited to observe your work and I find great inspiration here. 8 I love your key questions Martin. Thank you! • Also full believer in FAIL (First Attempt In Learning), works, learners learn how to learn and be resilient in learning, in life. Excellent idea Martin, far more powerful to demonstrate the impact of coaching educators that telling them about it! Congratulations, we need more of this! Great insights! Martin Richards CPCC Thank you for sharing • • • Martin Richards CPCC These tips are so incredibly valuable and needed to empower our future generations to be independent, innovative, creative and confident people in the world. Teachers have the privilege to form our future generations and the work you are doing in C4E is critical.
I enjoy reading each of your articles. They are helpful and thought provoking with skills needed for effective teaching and learning in the classroom. I look forward to learning more from you. • Thank you Martin Richards. Great article on coaching. It allows our clients or students to truly tap into their own selflearning ability! • • Great newsletter! I really enjoyed reading this and can 100% see how this introduction to coaching was powerful. What a great story to share. • Beautiful article…and, how could I disagree with that? • This is brilliant! Love your examples. Very powerful indeed. • 9 I have seen and used this before in an adult learning environment, but love the way the teacher has employed it here. Allowing students the space to consider their approaches to tasks, the results and their role in the outcome is so powerful and can very effectively change behaviour for the better as young students take on their own locus of control and are motivated to do better - the reason they know they will feel more fulfilled! Excellent! As always, a very good article.
Fleepit Digital © 2021