The Difference Between Mentoring and Coaching

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In education, the primary difference between coaching and mentoring is the client served. Coaching is all about the teacher partners with whom the coach
works. On the other hand, mentoring serves several clients: teachers, yes, but also school districts, the curriculum, the profession, and others. 

For instance, mentors in many educational settings have their
positions due to an attempt to reduce teacher attrition. In such situations, mentors serve the school district and the profession in attempting to prevent teachers from leaving as much as they serve the teachers they work with.

Or, another example, mentors frequently have a list of tasks to accomplish while working with mentees who are new teachers. These tasks include explaining the district’s evaluation system, reviewing particulars of the curriculum, and instructing newcomers on pedagogical moves. These are valuable tasks, but they
are not necessarily the topics on the minds of new teachers at any given moment. 

Unlike mentors, coaches always begin with the teacher, who is
their only client. They listen to teachers, help teachers identify high-priority topics, and partner to inquire and problem-solve with teachers. This is not a laissez-faire role; coaching requires strong process skills, especially questioning and planning skills, which move teachers to productively approach challenges and interests and to be thorough in thinking about the information upon which they base their decisions.

Mentoring appears useful to many new teachers. However, it is different from coaching.

Comparison of Reading Specialists and Literacy Coaches

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This chart will help you to distinguish between the roles of reading specialists and those of literacy coaches.

The Teacher's Role in the Coaching Conversation

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Understand
  • Learn about coaching and the coach's role.
  • Get to know the coach--as a person and an educator.
  • Know the overall aim of the coaching program.
Prepare
  • Think about how to make the best use of the time devoted to the coaching conversation.
  • Jot a few notes that will summarize important topics or ideas that you want to communicate.
  • Focus your preparations on problems you'd like to solve or interests you'd like to pursue, rather than seeking solutions in advance of the conversation. (Seeking solutions is a big part of the coaching partnership!)
  • Gather evidence that may be useful in the conversation--e.g. samples of student work, summaries of student assessments, teaching resources.
Communicate
  • Recognize that the coaching partnership requires active participation of all involved.
  • Seek to describe rather than complaining, forecasting, or demanding.
  • Ask about anything that isn't clear, including the purposes and processes of coaching.
  • Assume the coach sincerely wants to know what you have to say.
Follow Through
  • Review notes from the conversation.
  • Attend to any information-gathering that you committed to.
  • Think about futhering the conversation in the next meeting. 

Create Beautiful Designs

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Responsive & Interactive

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Cleaner Graphics

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Wider Scope

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Tablet Ready

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See Some Examples