12 Action Steps... is now online

Many of us are looking ahead with great hopes for 2023. Me too.

I have some great news for teachers everywhere. The 12 Steps newsletter is also a book and an online resource. Each format has its own advantage.

The 12 Steps newsletter will return on January 6th. We will begin publishing the newsletter again in 2023 on the first Friday and third Thursday of each month. In 2023, we will share more ideas and activities for bringing the benefits of coaching to your classroom.

Please use them and share them

We hope you find these ideas and activities easy to implement and begin to see positive changes for yourself and your students straight away. We encourage you to share with us your experiences of using coaching strategies. There is space in the newsletter for your activities and experiences.

I put thirty years of my life into teaching and coaching. I hold the belief that life coaching is by far the most powerful way to develop ourselves as professional educators and leaders. Further, I believe that teachers who use a coaching approach with their students will see them grow more quickly and more easily. The same is true for school leaders who coach their teaching staff. The biggest benefits go to the educators who both give coaching and receive coaching. That is why I founded C4E, Coaching for Educators and co-founded ibmee, International Body Mind Empowerment Enterprises. My vision is to connect the professional worlds of coaching and teaching, in service of educators and their students. I can only imagine how much the World will benefit when more of our students begin to live their legacy every day.

There is more information about C4E and ibmee at the end of this newsletter.

12 Steps is now online

Based on the 12 Steps newsletters of 2022, we have created an online, interactive resource. Get access to this powerful resource here. It has so much more to offer you than the newsletter or the book. It enable you to connect with other teachers, and with me.

Here is an overview of all 12 Steps, conveniently divided into 4 Stages.

You are encouraged to use the Teachers' Forum to share the steps you take in your classroom, and ask any questions you may have. We may feature your experience of using these activities in the upcoming newsletters (with your permission).

Stage One - Inside Us and Our Classroom

Steps to take: Positive Language, Humour and Asking not Telling

What educators say about this work

• I actually love reading your newsletter. Thank you.
• Love this theme of "alchemy" of serendipity. As an educator, your article reminds me how important it is to create an open space... for the moment and learning.
• Thank you for sharing. I am sure that coaching skills are soon a teacher's basic skills.
• This is SO important to remember! Words are our matter - our shared worlds and understanding are built with words. We can both heal and hurt with our words - even more so as educators. Thanks for sharing, Martin! :)

Stage Two - Between Us and Our Students

Steps to take: Asking Open-ended Questions, Asking for Feedback, Learning from Mistakes

What educators are saying:

• Thanks Martin for sharing. This is another great resource to add to my portfolio. Simple things that can turn things around.
• Love the questions you are asking students for self-evaluation!
• Thank you. I really love constructive feedback and analyzing it. This trains my courage and performance.
• I enjoyed the part you said Observation should be voluntary and there must be mutual understanding between the Observer and the teacher.
• Thank you. I ask every workshop student for feedforward. I like the question: What can I do differently next time? And I always get honest feedback, and see my blind corners.

Stage Three - Between the Education System and Us

Steps to take: Making Agreements, Revealing Agendas, Setting Goals

What teachers are saying about this:

• After 10 years of mentoring teachers earning their M.Ed. degrees in online universities, I still believe my most important words are: "How can I help you?" and "What can I do to make your learning easier today?" :)
• Celebrating and shouting from the rafters of the power and impact of the heart-based support you are so purposed to give for Coaching in Education!! Thank you for your service!
• This is so true Martin! Which is why coaching for me was a natural segue from education. We want the best from and for our students as we do for our clients! Thank you for sharing!
• So true! A balance between teaching and coaching skills lead to empowering experiences to both students and teachers!
• Absolutely agree. Learning must not be a cozy-club.

Stage Four - Inside Our Classroom and Beyond

Steps to take: Learning Styles, Role Models, Values and Beliefs

What is included in this online resource

Using this self-paced, experiential and collaborative resource, you get:

1. Descriptions of the 12 Action Steps that you can take towards adding the benefits of coaching to your classroom
2. Stories about teachers who are taking steps towards their coaching classroom
3. Authentic stories from coaching classrooms with Martin Richards
4. Collaboration with other teachers who are bringing coaching to classrooms in other schools
5. Access to the Teachers Questions and Answers Forum where you can receive and give support to other teachers.

12 Action Steps, online

Get access to the powerful interactive resource here.

The 12 Steps Newsletter

You won't have to wait too long. The 12 Steps newsletter returns on January 6th 2023 with more ideas, activities and stories about the following: JAN Positive Language, FEB Humour MAR Asking not Telling, APR Asking Open-ended Questions, MAY Asking for Feedback, JUN Learning from Mistakes, JUL Making Agreements, AUG Revealing Agendas SEP Setting Goals, OCT Learning Styles, NOV Role Models, DEC Values and Beliefs.

Thank you for reading this far. I know your time is precious and I appreciate your investment. Please share every newsletter with your networks. There are still millions of teachers who need to know that they can use a coaching approach in their classrooms. That would benefit tens of millions of students who can then open up to their full potential and begin living their legacy. Imagine what wonders they will bring to the world! We need them. And you can be the one to make the difference simply by reposting the newsletters.