Communication Coaching

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Communication Coaching

• The skills required to maximise a teachers
  presence in the classroom

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Why look at this area of our teaching?

• There are a large number of teachers who plan
  outstanding lessons, but only deliver them at a
  Good or even Satisfactory standard
• Improved teaching presence improves classroom
  behaviour and the understanding of what is being
  taught for the pupil
• It is probably the most over-looked tool in
  teaching, yet Social Scientists have demonstrated
  that unspoken communication, or non-verbal
  communication, accounts for a large percentage of
  our total interaction with others, possibly as
  much as 95. Therefore by adopting a more
  confident and positive approach, you are likely
  to get a much more successful outcome.

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Common mistakes in communication from teachers
failing to make Outstanding

• Not being aware of your own facial expressions
  and body language (they dont relate these with
  what they are actually saying)
• Not learning students names quickly enough -
  doing this will and does have positive impact on
  teacher/student communication (particularly SEN
  students)
• Not looking for signs that students may have
  misunderstood you
• Teacher remains stuck behind a desk, to a chair
  or to their whiteboard
• Teacher does not control the pace of the lesson
• Teacher is doing too much work in the lesson by
  talking, overloading and avoiding any form of
  silence

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Non-verbal communication

• Try and list as many forms of non-verbal
  communication as you can
• Smiling
• Laughter
• Head Nods/Shrug
• Eye- contact/movement
• Frowns
• Hand gestures
• Facial expressions
• Movement/position within a room
• Physical Contact
• Body Posture/Stance

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The 6 recognised areas for effective communication

• Be Clear Information is presented clearly
• Be Concise Avoid being long-winded and make
  points succint
• Be Correct Ensure the information you are giving
  is correct
• Be Complete Give all the required information
  and not just part of it
• Be Courteous Be polite and non-threatening,
  avoid conflict
• Be Constructive Avoid negativity and look for
  positives

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A focus on your own presentation style

• Please grade yourself from 1 - 3 (1 Good, 2
  Average, 3 Weak) for the following areas of
  presentation
• Articulation of speech
• Volume of voice
• Pace of speech
• Energy in your voice (Variety)
• Confidence in the classroom
• Use of Pause
• Movement around the classroom

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A Practical Task

• Write one example of a learning outcome for a
  lesson in your subject
• By the end of the lesson today I would like
  everyone to have produced a 3 minute Drama
  performance which shows your understanding of
  Dramatic tension and silence.

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Using that Learning Outcome

• A Fairy Godmother
• Spread eye-contact around the room
• Voice becomes more gentle and ranged
• Opens up your body

• A Circus Ringleader
• Confident
• Assured
• (in control)
• Voice is projected and varied in tone

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In conclusion

• What we can do to ensure quality communication in
  our lessons
• Ensure there is positive feedback given at some
  point in every lesson
• Give everybody in the lesson equal attention-
  avoid focusing purely on misbehaviour
• Communicate as appropriate to the learning levels
  of the pupils you are dealing with
• Ensure that you not only talk to the pupils but
  listen to them as well
• Next time you plan a lesson, spend a few minutes
  considering how you will say things, where you
  will position yourself within a room and how
  reflect on how you usually do these things