Academic Coaching

Level 1B Tutor Training ModuleTutoring Services

Kansas City Kansas Community College

The Game Plan

• “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”

– Vince Lombardi

What is Coaching?

• Academic Coaching requires that personal strengths & academic challenges be examined by an expert, the Coach.

• It is the Coaches responsibility to provide direction and resources to the Player.

Self Understanding-Staying on Top of your Game

• What are your strengths?

• What are your weaknesses?

• How do you perform under pressure?

• What works for you?

• What does not work for you?

Roles of the Coach

• Leader: Model what you expect from those you lead

• Instructor

• Standard Setter

• Disciplinarian

• Friend: Maintain a professional relationship

• Counsel

Roles of the Coach (cont’d)

• Evaluator: Show the correct way, hold accountable

• Sounding Board: Others need your advice & expertise

• Self Assessor: Constantly assessing yourself & re-inventing

Laying the Groundwork

• What is the Academic Resource Center’s Mission?

• What are the Objectives of the Tutoring Services Program?

• What are the Objectives of the Math Tutoring Center? The Reading & Writing Center? Peer Tutoring?

• What is your Mission as the Coach?

Key Skills for Leading

• Interpersonal Communication Skills– The Coach as Sender

• Use “I” Language• Speak in Behavioral Terms• Follow Up• Avoid Over-Communicating

– The Coach as Receiver• Promote Improved Communication through Active Listening• Set Ground Rules/Expectations• Reward Good Communication• Follow Up

Key Skills for Leading

• Listening– Listen now to avoid fallout later– Don’t jump in with your experience before they share

theirs– Watch out for trigger words

• 5 Kinds of Listening– Ignore– Nodding– Selective Listening– Active Listening– Empathic Listening

Helping the Reluctant Player

• Determine the gaps between where the player is and where he/she should be

• Does he/she have the ability?– Yes: Provide tutoring, Practice, Provide feedback, Tutor,

tutor, tutor some more– No: Conference with Instructor

• Is performance up to standard now?– Yes: Tutor as needed to maintain– No: Are expectations clear? Is lack of performance

rewarded? Is something hindering performance?

7 Strategies Coaches Use to Deal with Pressure

• Turn Negatives into Positives• Categorize your Stress• Visualize your Success• Look for Learning Opportunities• Find the Funny Side• Let the Natural Adrenaline Rush from Stress

give you the Kick to do Bigger & Better Things

• Keep the “One Day at a Time” Mentality

Stephen Covey’s Circle

• Outer Circle: How others perceive and the things we have no control over

• Inner Circle: Perception of self and things we have full control over

Platinum Rule

• “Do unto others as they would want done unto”