Harry and Rosemary Wong (2004) state, "The most effective support group strategy is known as peer coaching." Peer coaching involves a collaboration between a teacher and a respected colleague. The process of peer coaching enhances the development of teacher performance and job satisfaction. Peer coaching also creates valuable opportunities for teachers to be favorably recognized—for both their accomplishments and their perseverance.

An essential ingredient in coaching is "reflective questioning," in which the coach poses thought-provoking questions to a colleague to encourage him or her to explore skills, experiences, knowledge, values, or beliefs (Downey, English, Steffy, Frase, & Poston, 2004). One of the questions asked by the coach is, "What is an area of focus you wish to establish?"

Sample Areas of Focus

Teacher behaviors (verbal and nonverbal), such as:

• Direction giving
• Responses to students
• Pause time
• Use of humor
• Gender bias
• Gestures
• Voice intonation
• Eye contact
• Use of props

Student behaviors, such as:

• Focused attention
• Cooperation
• Acting out
• Participation in class
• Following directions
• Responsibly using materials
• Answering questions

Lesson characteristics, such as:

• Format
• Materials
• Activities
• Sequence of activities
• Content
• Pace
• Assessment

Downey, C. J., English, F. W., Steffy, B. E., Frase, L. E., & Poston, W. K. (2004). The three-minute classroom walk- through: Changing school supervisory practice one teacher at a time. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=j6oMnX_8WdYC&

Wong, H. K., & Wong, R. T. (2004). The first days of school: How to be an effective teacher. Mountain View, CA: Henry K. Wong.