|
| Instructional Coaching: The Unhelpful Conversation I Keep Having |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've had a version of the same conversation in staff rooms, at conferences, and in quiet corridors after PD sessions. It usually starts with someone being honest with me, which I always appreciate.
"Look, I think instructional coaching is probably good. I'm just not sure it's for us right now. We've already got a lot on."
I've heard that so many times now that I've stopped treating it as a one-off. It's a pattern. And the pattern is telling me something important.
A lot of really good educators and leaders still see instructional coaching as a program. An add-on or something you bolt onto an already full plate, that competes with everything else for time and energy. When it's framed that way, hesitation isn't resistance, it is completely rational.
The people saying this weren't sceptical about coaching itself. Being curious, after pressing and following up more, they'd tell me about a conversation with a coach, mentor or leader that changed how they taught, or a colleague who watched them teach and asked one question that unlocked something. They believed in this but they seemed to doubt the packaging.
That gap is what this series of articles is about. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Instructional Coaching Done Well Roadshow 2026 |
|
| |
Stopping in Auckland, Sydney, Hobart & Melbourne
Instructional Coaching Done Well - what does it look like?
Based on 30+ years of research by Jim Knight, discover how to create a sustainable, impactful instructional coaching program that really works in the short and long term across 2 practical days.
Designed for leaders and educators interested in improving learning, engagement, and teaching in their unique context, participants will explore a research-backed, evidence-informed blueprint for implementing instructional coaching effectively - now and into the future in their school.
Now is the time to lock in your place 👇
🔸 Auckland - 5 & 6 August
🔸 Sydney - 10 & 11 August 🔸 Hobart - 13 & 14 August 🔸 Melbourne - 17 & 18 August
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Teaching Leading Coaching Conference 2026 |
|
|
The Teaching, Leading, Coaching Conference (TLC) returns this year in Dallas Texas, marking a truly significant milestone. This year, we celebrate 30 years of Jim Knight’s pioneering research in Instructional Coaching - work that has shaped how educators collaborate, learn and grow together for decades.
TLC 2026 honours this remarkable legacy while looking ahead to the future of coaching practice and its impact in schools.
Secure your place below - either in person of virtually! |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Ripple Effect : Transforming School Cultures One Conversation at a Time |
|
|
|
Auckland, New Zealand — 7 August 2026 |
|
|
The Ripple Effect explores how just one coaching conversation can shift thinking, shape behaviour, and foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and professional growth. This one-day conference highlights the power of a coaching way of being and how it influences every interaction within a school community.
Discover more by clicking below!
Hosted and delivered by our partners at The Education Group. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coaching in Education Podcast |
|
|
Coaching through Change with Justine Smyth
|
|
|
Today we look back at this episode where host Richard Reid was joined by Justine Smyth, an executive principal working with the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Justine shares her experience amalgamating three neighbouring schools into a single new school build, unpacking how she mobilised three distinct school communities into one cohesive coaching culture.
A worthwhile listen! |
|
|
|
|
|
The wonderful 'ripple effect' of Coaching - 5 Tips to help this happen
As educational leaders, your realm of influence is wide reaching and often the effects may not be immediate or visible and can be underestimated.
In the age of internet, global citizenship and multiple connections are becoming the norm. In Coaching on the axis, Kahn (2014) focuses on how coaching is an important way of working with the increasing complexity within organisations. Coaching and the coaching approaches within organisations can serve a role in promoting change and success by affecting not only the people being coached but also those around them.
The key is recognising the importance the effect a coaching conversation can have across an organisation and how, as leaders, you can positively impact and influence this. |
|
|
|
|
|
Coaching Accreditation Program |
|
|
| Designed for educators by educators, the Coaching Accreditation Programprovides comprehensive training for educators in the skills, conversational frameworks, and "way of being" of coaching.
Delivered ONLINE by leading experts in the field, this course provides a pathway to industry recognised coaching credentials with EMCC Global. |
|
|
|
“What stood out most was how powerful the course is for both personal and professional growth. You really don’t just learn about coaching; you actually experience how impactful it can be from both a coach and coachee perspective.”
|
|
| UPCOMING COHORTS:
Commencement dates below |
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | Growth Talk: Managing “Got a Minute?” Conversations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conversation is at the heart of learning and leading.
This course explores a common leadership moment: the spontaneous “got a minute?” conversation. These unscheduled corridor chats or knocks on the door aren’t in your calendar and leave no time to prepare, yet they offer powerful opportunities to support thinking, progress, and learning in the moment.
Over a highly practical day participants will explore how to bring shape to impromptu other-initiated conversations; the key skills that fuel learning conversations; and how to show up in ways that best support the thinking and progress of our colleagues. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introduction to Leadership Coaching |
|
|
| Are you or your team new to coaching, and curious where to start?
Experience leadership coaching with hands-on practice, feedback, and collaborative learning with the 2-day Introduction to Leadership Coachingcourse.
Gain confidence and competence in using the 3 elements of coaching - the GROWTH framework, key coaching skills, and Way of Being - to foster a culture of growth, improvement, and excellence within your educational community. |
|
|
| "This course has given me lots to think about, lots of new strategies and skills to try, and more confidence in evidence based best practice when having effective coaching conversations.” |
|
| | | | | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"A very enjoyable and practical course that I have already begun using straight away. It clarified how to maintain a coaching conversation whilst still offering ideas ” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Impact Cycle 2-day course is designed to support educators in establishing instructional coaching cycles that lead to improved teaching and student learning.
The course is for anyone who works alongside teachers to help them develop their practice. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Managing Challenging Conversations |
|
|
| Do you find yourself avoiding difficult conversations - even when you know they need to happen?
The Managing Challenging Conversations 1-day course is designed for leaders and managers who want to enhance their confidence, skills, and understanding to engage in these conversations in ways that maintain high expectations alongside constructive relationships. |
|
|
| "The skills and tools I’ve learned to be clear and concise in my messaging when having challenging conversations - I loved how much time we had to reflect on ourselves and our position in conversations.”
Hannah Simmons, Kororoit Creek Primary School VIC |
|
| | | | | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exploring the Seven Success Factors of Instructional Coaching |
|
|
How can we make instructional coaching effective?
For over 20 years, Dr Jim Knight has researched instructional coaching and collaborated with over 150,000 instructional coaches. From this work, we have distilled his findings into Seven Success Factors that are critical for instructional coaching to work.
During this 1-day course, you will explore the Seven Success Factors as a blueprint for establishing, administering, and assessing an effective instructional coaching program that is laser-focused on every educator’s ultimate goal: the success of students. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Using AI in Instructional Coaching: Best Practices and Tools |
|
|
This course dives into how AI tools can amplify instructional and peer coaching by enhancing- not replacing - human connection.
You’ll explore AI-driven coaching scenarios, mastering effective prompts for lesson analysis, strategy development, and goal setting.
Practical activities will guide you through using AI to identify instructional adaptations and refine teaching approaches. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leading Reflective Practice |
|
|
Leading Reflective Practice introduces participants to reflective practice as a powerful capability for coaches, leaders and mentors who want to deepen their impact, sharpen their professional judgement and intentionally support the growth of others.
This course blends theory, live experience and practical tools that can be applied immediately - particularly for those establishing or leading reflective practice groups. |
|
| It is recommended that participants have at least 12 months experience as a coach, mentor or leader to support leading reflective practice with others. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solutions Focus Coaching Masterclass |
|
|
Solutions Focus Masterclass is an advanced-skills course diving into Solutions Focus and the way in which it integrates with the GROWTH Framework and 'key coaching skills'.
Solutions Focus, a powerful yet subtle approach to positive change, supports educators to work with change, emergence and the unexpected more confidently. Practical and versatile, it applies to any interaction - with teams, staff, or in personal conversations - and builds greater awareness of the impact of language, supporting more skilful use of it. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is an advanced coaching skills course. Participants must have attended the Introduction to Leadership Coaching course or the Coaching Accreditation Program. Participants should also have experience of applying their coaching skills in their workplace roles. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Know Someone Who’d Love This?
If you know a friend or colleague who would enjoy our newsletter, why not share it with them? Simply send them this link: https://www.growthcoaching.com.au/signup/
Thanks for helping us grow our community! 😊 |
|
|
|
Complimentary Professional Learning |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why Instructional Coaching stalls…and the 7 things that make it stick |
|
| | Join Dan Steele and Chris Munro for this practical recorded session exploring why Instructional Coaching embeds deeply in some schools, while loses momentum in others.
They introduce the seven success factors that determine whether coaching genuinely shifts teaching and learning across your school, or becomes another well intentioned intitiative that doesn’t quite land.
This session is a perfect primer to the upcoming Instructional Coaching Done Well Roadshow - we hope to see you in Auckland, Sydney, Hobart or Melbourne! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
