Instructional Coaching

TLC’s Instructional Coaching Program provides personalized, formative support for SOLS instructors who want to reflect on and strengthen their teaching. Coaching is collaborative, confidential, and centered on your individual goals. Whether you are trying something new, working through a challenge, or simply looking for another perspective on your teaching, TLC is here to help.

What Is Instructional Coaching?

Instructional coaching is an individualized professional development opportunity designed to help you reflect on your teaching and identify strategies that support your goals. Rather than evaluating your teaching, TLC works alongside you as a thought partner to explore ideas, consider evidence-based practices, and determine next steps that make sense for you and your students.

What Can We Work On?

Coaching can focus on almost any aspect of teaching and learning. You might work with TLC to:

• Increase student engagement or participation
• Explore new instructional strategies
• Design or revise assignments or assessments
• Incorporate active learning
• Address a specific teaching challenge
• Reflect on a recent peer observation
• Talk through an idea before implementing it

You do not need to have a problem or concern to participate. Coaching can also provide a dedicated time and space to think intentionally about your teaching.

What Does Coaching Look Like?

The coaching process is flexible and shaped by your needs. It may involve a single conversation about a specific question, multiple meetings focused on a longer-term teaching goal, and/or a formative observation process.

1:1 Coaching Conversations

You will meet individually with TLC to discuss your goals, questions, or challenges. Together, you can identify possible strategies, resources, or next steps to explore.

Classroom or Course Observation

Coaching may include an observation of an immersion class or review of an online course or module. Unlike the formal SOLS Peer Observation process, coaching observations are formative and are used to support reflection and conversation.

Follow-Up and Reflection

You and your coach can determine what follow-up would be most useful. This might include another conversation, trying a new strategy, reviewing materials, or continuing to work towards a longer-term goal.

Is Instructional Coaching Evaluative?

No. Instructional coaching is a formative professional development opportunity, not an evaluation of your teaching. The purpose is to provide a supportive space for reflection, innovation, and continued growth.

Participation in instructional coaching is separate from the formal SOLS Peer Observation process and does not replace a required peer observation.

Get Started

Interested in working with a TLC instructional coach? Complete the Instructional Coaching Interest Form to tell us a little about what you would like to work on. TLC will follow up with you to determine the best next step.