What a week looks like for a busy Instructional Coach

An Instructional Coach’s week is a dynamic blend of strategy, support, and collaboration. While every day may bring new challenges, effective coaches work within a structured yet flexible schedule that allows them to meet the diverse needs of teachers and leadership teams. From planning professional development to conducting classroom observations and debriefs, Instructional Coaches operate as partners in continuous school improvement. Here’s a closer look at what a typical week might look like for a busy and impactful Instructional Coach.

Monday: Planning and Goal Alignment

• Morning: Review school-wide instructional priorities and upcoming coaching cycles.
• Midday: Meet with administrators to align on goals, data, and coaching focus areas.
• Afternoon: Schedule coaching sessions and classroom visits for the week.
• End of Day: Create or update coaching tools such as observation forms and teacher reflection prompts.

Mondays are essential for aligning goals and setting a clear direction for the week’s coaching work.

Tuesday: Classroom Observations and Teacher Support

• Morning: Observe instruction in core subject classrooms, focusing on areas such as engagement or differentiation.
• Midday: Analyze student work or formative assessment data with teachers.
• Afternoon: Debrief with teachers using reflective coaching questions and co-create next steps.
• Ongoing: Log notes from each session in a coaching platform or shared document.

Tuesday is highly interactive, centered around real-time support and feedback loops.

Wednesday: Coaching Cycles and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

• Morning: Conduct goal-setting conversations with new coaching cycle participants.
• Midday: Facilitate PLCs with grade-level or department teams to analyze student progress and share strategies.
• Afternoon: Support teacher collaboration with protocols and discussion facilitation.
• Evening (if applicable): Prepare materials or presentations for upcoming professional development sessions.

Wednesdays focus on deepening relationships and building collective teacher capacity.

Thursday: Model Lessons and Co-Teaching

• Morning: Plan and deliver model lessons in collaboration with teachers.
• Midday: Reflect with teachers about instructional decisions and student engagement during the lesson.
• Afternoon: Work on resource curation—gather or design scaffolds, rubrics, or formative tools based on teacher needs.
• End of Day: Communicate progress and plans with leadership or department chairs.

Thursday is hands-on and instructional, allowing coaches to demonstrate best practices in action.

Friday: Reflection, Documentation, and Future Planning

• Morning: Follow up with teachers to track coaching cycle progress and reflect on successes or challenges.
• Midday: Organize coaching logs, update data dashboards, and complete session notes.
• Afternoon: Plan for the following week—adjust schedules, identify new coaching opportunities, and draft PD content.
• Wrap-up: Reflect personally on wins, growth moments, and professional goals for the week ahead.

Fridays bring closure and intentional preparation for continuous, impactful work.

Ongoing Responsibilities Throughout the Week

• Answering teacher questions and supporting resource requests
• Attending school improvement or leadership team meetings
• Providing just-in-time coaching for instructional tech or curriculum updates
• Staying current with instructional trends through reading or PD participation

Flexibility is key—an Instructional Coach's calendar shifts to meet evolving school needs.

Conclusion

The weekly rhythm of an Instructional Coach is rich with variety, relationship-building, and professional learning. Through strategic planning, reflective conversations, and embedded support, coaches serve as catalysts for instructional excellence and student success. Each week is a new opportunity to grow, guide, and lead in meaningful ways.