Shift Your Coaching From Observation to Transformation With This Powerful Tool
Stop Asking “How Did It Go?” Start Asking This Instead:
You’ve finished a classroom observation. The teacher looks at you expectantly. You say, “How did you think it went?”
That question leads to reflection but not always change.
Try this instead:
“What was your goal for student learning and did it happen?”
Why This Question Works:
- Focuses on student outcomes, not teacher moves.
- Builds metacognition around instructional impact.
- Creates a safe space for evidence-based reflection.
Coaching Research:
- Jim Knight emphasizes that transformational coaching focuses on dialogue, not directives.
- Instructional Coaching Group studies show this kind of goal-based question leads to faster implementation of new strategies.
Use It in These Moments:
- After a lesson observation
- In weekly coaching meetings
- Following PD or curriculum rollouts
And always follow it with:
“What evidence did you see or not see?”