As the school year draws to a close, it’s important for instructional coaches to take time for self-reflection. Reflection allows you to recognize your successes, evaluate your areas for growth, and set goals for the future. Here are 25 self-reflection questions to help you evaluate your coaching practice and set intentions for the upcoming year.
30 Self-Reflection Questions for Instructional Coaches
- What has been your biggest success or progress this year?
- What did you learn about yourself this year?
- What actions did you take that strongly aligned with your beliefs and values? (Steve Barkley)
- What actions strayed from your coaching work, and how would you like to shift those practices for next year? (Steve Barkley)
- Looking forward to next year, what is one way you would like to grow your coaching practice in order to make an impact on student learning?
- How has your coaching practice grown this year?
- How has your coaching practice supported teacher growth?
- What’s your biggest challenge as a coach?
- What learning or support do you need to continue to grow?
- How has your thinking grown or changed this school year?
- What is something you accomplished this school year that you are proud of?
- What can you learn from your experiences this year?
- What do you need to find out, learn, and develop before next school year?
- What do our students need us to learn?
- How did students benefit from you partnering with teachers?
- Which coaching practices were most useful / least useful to you?
- What are you curious about leading into next school year?
- What is most important to you as a coach?
- What changes do you need to make in your practice, and how will you make them?
- What are your highest hopes for next year?
- What are your fears for next year?
- What coaching strategies do you want to keep next year? What do you want to let go of?
- What changes in teacher practice do you believe are needed next year? How might you support these changes?
- What do you enjoy about coaching?
- When have you felt like an effective coach? What patterns do you notice about these moments?
- Who do you need to build relationships with as you move forward into next year?
- What is your metaphor for coaching? Why?
- What do you want to pay more attention to as a coach?
- What practices will ensure you feel successful as a coach next year?
- Who can you ask to be your coach?
Taking the time to reflect on these questions will help you to identify areas where you can improve and set goals for the upcoming year. Remember that professional development is a continuous process, and self-reflection is a critical component of growth. Visit our website to learn our instructional coaches can help with your future school year goals.
Angela Buckingham is an education specialist working with instructional coaches and PLCs here at the Education Service Center Region 13
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