The Evidence that Coaching Makes a Difference

The evidence that coaching makes a difference is not going to be seen in student scores on this year's standardized tests.

It also might not be seen in students' grades, or even in their performance this week, month, or year.

But a great change is taking place.

The evidence is in the classrooms in our district, where students are now seen far more often seated in groups, working together (with or without technology) to discvoer learning. The evidence is in the places the decision makers aren't looking, but it is there.

It is in the student blogs and discussion posts, where their enthusiasm and engagement in their learning shows clearly in their writing.

It is in the projects that they spend hours at home to complete because they are excited to share their ideas with their classmates.

It is in the classrooms where the teachers have stepped off the stage and now guide their students to learn for themselves.

It is in the conversations where teachers don't give their students the right answers, but teach them how to solve problems for themselves.

The evidence might come years later, when a student is faced with an academic challenge that he or she overcomes by researching and using a variety of means to solve a problem.

We might not get to see this process, but it will be behind the solutions and the successes.