COACHING - Anthony Anderson

Picture this typical classroom scenario - the teacher spouts pearls of wisdom, the students absorb it verbatim, then the teacher tests the students to check what they have learned. Not terribly interactive. Not terribly effective either...
Coaching can be a way to breathe new life into this tired scenario. Coaching is not what it might sound - it doesn't have much to do with shouting from the sidelines, nor is it a synonym for simple encouragement.
Rather, it depends on encouraging students to set targets and take responsibility for breaking down long-term goals into manageable chunks. This can be a useful tool in music teaching, where learning dialogues arise naturally due to the performance nature of the subject.

Models
One of the frequently used coaching approaches is the GROW model. This involves establishing a clear, focused Goal, looking at the Reality of how distant that goal currently is, charting and considering Options to take steps towards the set goal, before finally considering a suitable Way forward. This concept is about transforming the teacher-student relationship - not presenting students with solutions, but encouraging them to find their own.

In Practice
Struggling to help a class improve their music essays? Why not ask them to predict what their marks will be for an assignment, before presenting them with the reality?
Try breaking down the activity into the following steps: -
- What mark would you like to have achieved for this piece of work?
This helps students set their own aspirational GOALS, rather than focusing on teacher-set tasks.
- What mark did you actually receive?
This helps students to measure the REALITY of where they are now
- How could you close the gap between the different marks? List as many ideas as you can.
This helps students list OPTIONS and decide how they can overcome any obstacles
-Choose your favorite idea. What could you do by next lesson to work towards this idea?
This helps students to decide on a WAY FORWARD and gives them a timeframe.
- Write down two positive words about your work on a post-it-note and put it somewhere where you can see it.
This helps students hold themselves to account throughout the process.

Coaching can make a real difference and seems so much better than pleading with students to do better or chastising them for their lack of effort. For me, it provides a real strategy for moving musical progress forward. Instead of eulogising to students, perhaps energising them to learn is a better way.