Both-And: Trainings and Coaching

October 2, 2023

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The school year is now in full swing, and, for me, that means a significant shift in the work I do with schools. With that shift, and the month of September having fully changed to a different kind of learning with educators, I thought I would share my perspective on how that shift impacts (or doesn’t impact) the day-to-day work of learning.

Trainings, Trainings, Trainings!

My summer is full of one- and two-day trainings with entire staffs, or at least significant portions of those staff. The trainings consist of a combination of big picture overviews and nitty-gritty specifics. I ground learning in theory and research and move quickly to application and tools. Of course, some stories and plenty o’ humor is sprinkled in for good measure.

The feedback I get from staff engaging in these trainings is almost universally positive. Even the back-row folks who try their darndest to be the “cool kids” and engage minimally will secretly come and tell me after the day that the PD was “some of the best I’ve ever had.”

My evaluation results are well above what Solution Tree, the premiere provider of Professional Development, considers as excellent. It’s high energy, high engagement, and, dare I say, even fun at times.

A Disconnect?

Please don’t get me wrong: I’m not sharing this to boast.

The reason I’m sharing is because those one- and two-day trainings, as good as they might be, have a moderate-at-best impact on professional practice and student learning.

In some cases, I get to return to those school sites after having done that summer training. Even those who engaged most fully struggle to recall key points from the training. Staff said it was some of the best training they’ve attended, yet can’t remember the Big Ideas of a Professional Learning Community, or the four Pillars, or even, in some cases, the four Critical Questions.

Embedded Coaching

So we have incredible educators, engaging fully in learning, and both anecdotally and empirically I have evidence that the day was a success. Yet the learning doesn’t seem to “stick” from those one- and two-day trainings.

Which is where the school year comes in.

I’m very grateful that the vast majority of districts that I train in the summer continue the work with embedded coaching throughout the year. This is where, for me, the real learning happens. As much as I enjoy the energy that comes from presenting, it’s in the day-to-day work of setting up systems, monitoring those systems, supporting leaders, working with educators and their teams, and digging into the nitty-gritty elements of collaboration that I find the greatest satisfaction.

Some Results

One team felt that they had chosen the “wrong” essential standard because they were spending so much time on prerequisite skills. And they knew this because of the short, common, formative assessments they were doing. They were empowered to change their essential standard without lowering expectations for student learning.

Another team had created student tracking forms so that students could see and track their progress toward essential standards. Students were excited to see the progress, and the entire classroom climate had changed.

And another had data showing the success of student learning based on the short, specific, common formative assessments they were using to get students to standard. Students were learning more, and faster.

The Real Work

I love the trainings!

I love even more to see educators changing their practice and making significant differences in the learning lives of students.

Training without coaching, frankly, falls short. And coaching without training fails to create a foundational knowledge-base and experience from which to draw. It’s both-and. Not either-or.

If you are in a position of decision-making, please consider the role that ongoing, embedded coaching can play in transforming your system.

Questions for Reflection

What role does training, alone, play in your school or system?

How can you ensure that coaching is part of a long-term plan?

No matter your role in your system, how can you influence the system to ensure coaching is part of the work?

Rib Review

In case you didn’t know it, barbecue rocks! I had some incredible ribs at three places this month, and all of them are highly recommended.

Smokin’ In Style is a counter-style barbecue spot in Hot Springs, Arkansas with ribs that didn’t need sauce. They were tender without a heavy smoky flavor. Even though I’ve been to Hot Springs many times, I had never enjoyed this place. My return visits will definitely include a return to Smokin’ In Style!

While in Huntsville, Alabama, the school treated me to LawLers Barbecue. Tenderness was the name of the game on these ribs, and the sauce just added a touch of sweetness. As with all good ribs, the sauce wasn’t needed, but instead a nice addition.

Finally, regular readers of the Rib Review know that Jethro’s is a favorite spot near our home. And it continues to make the grade! We went to a location in Des Moines called Jethro’s Barbecue n Bacon Bacon. Now what’s not to love about that?!