OVERVIEW OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTION 4: USING SOLUTION DIALOGUE

Powerful coaching conversations that promote learning use Solution Dialogue (Jenson, Noonan & Gaumer Erickson, 2013) to reflect and plan next steps. Using strategies focused on growth can help a learner understand their rationale for change, expand their thinking, craft stronger solutions, and better understand how change will improve outcomes.

Coaching Conversations that use the elements of Solution Dialogue involve

  • focusing on what has gone well and where the learner believes more support is needed;
  • using relevant data;
  • validating, adding suggestions, and providing a rationale for change;
  • modeling and/or providing examples of the content/practice in use;
  • providing opportunity for reflection and clarification;
  • providing opportunity or resources for guided practice; and
  • identifying next steps.

UNPACKING SOLUTION DIALOGUE

Asking Questions about Data

Coaches need some depth of knowledge about data analysis and problem solving to help teachers understand how to access data and use it to inform instruction. A data coaching conversation moves the recipient of coaching from looking at the data, to decisions about action that are based on the data. As with any coaching conversation, planning and selection of questions can help the coach differentiate for the needs of the person/team being coached. The ORID and Coaching Stems document is a useful tool for selecting and planning data-focused coaching conversations.

Preparing for Hard Conversations

At times, a coach may need to prepare for more difficult conversations. When a coach has to share unfavorable data, address major issues of concern, or address attitudinal resistance, it may require some added preparation. A skilled coach can structure these types of conversations in a manner that doesn’t damage the coaching relationship.

Elena Aguilar’s document “Preparing for Hard Conversations” (Aguilar, (n.d.)) can be useful when preparing for a difficult conversation. Read this document and reflect on an upcoming coaching conversation or one you have had in the past. How might these ideas help/have helped you plan for difficult conversations?

Growth Goal Plan Reflection

The Growth Goal Plan Reflection Template can be used along with the Growth Goal Plan Template to document and plan next steps following implementation of the plan.

Watch the video Kindergarten Rainbow Writing Rubric (GSD Literacy Coaches, 2015) (4:50 min) of a kindergarten teacher using a rainbow writing rubric with her students as they practice self-assessing. After watching the video, use the blank Growth Plan Reflection Template and the Types of Coach-Teacher Conversations handout to develop at least four Solution Dialogue Questions you might use in a post-plan coaching conversation.