As the school year winds down, many instructional coaches find themselves torn between the urge to unplug and the desire to prepare for an even stronger year ahead. Summer offers a unique opportunity — not to overload yourself but to invest intentionally in small actions that build significant momentum for the upcoming school year.
Whether you have a few quiet weeks or a packed summer calendar, sharpening your coaching skills can make a lasting impact when you return in the fall. Here are five simple, meaningful ways to use summer to recharge, refocus and reignite your coaching craft with flexible, bite-sized ideas.
1. Choose one transformational read for summer
Summer is the perfect time to immerse yourself in a powerful professional book. However, pick one book that stretches your thinking instead of overloading your nightstand. Whether you hope to grow your coaching skills, enhance your coaching conversations, or create a coaching culture, choose a title that aligns with your personal goals.
You may already have a coaching book you are waiting to read. Or, if you are looking for a new book this summer, explore these 20 Transformational Reads for Summer Skill Building, organized to meet you where you are in your coaching journey by category or organized by Coaching Challenges, Meet Your Match.
Set a goal to read, plan to implement and apply three key takeaways during the upcoming school year.
2. Practice coaching conversations
Want to boost your confidence and effectiveness as a communicator? Use the summer lull to rehearse. Identify one or two challenging coaching scenarios you faced this year and role-play them with a trusted colleague, mentor or even solo via video recording.
Focus specifically on:
- Your questioning strategies (Are they open-ended? Reflective?)
- Your listening presence (Do you paraphrase and actively listen?)
- Your tone and timing (Are you balancing empathy with clarity and solution-focused thinking?)
Record and review yourself to identify areas for growth. Here is a Summer Coaching Conversation Practice Guide to strengthen your coaching skills. Even 30 minutes of practice several times over the summer can improve your in-the-moment coaching conversations this fall.
3. Reimagine (not just refresh) your coaching menu
Summer is a perfect time to revisit how you communicate the value of your coaching, and that often starts with the coaching menu. Traditionally, a coaching menu outlines your services, such as coaching cycles, co-teaching, PLC support or tech integration. But what if your menu did more than just list options?
Instead of simply updating a static menu, consider redesigning it to reflect the deeper purpose of coaching: to support teachers’ growth in ways that foster their competence, autonomy and relatedness — the three core principles of Self-Determination Theory.
Ask yourself:
- Does my coaching menu invite dialogue or just deliver options?
- Are there pathways for teacher choice and personalization?
- Could I offer flexible entry points like goal-setting sessions, micro-PD or collaborative learning spaces?
You’ll build a more meaningful partnership from the first interaction by aligning your offerings with teacher motivation and agency. You don’t have to toss your coaching menu, but adding just one or two teacher-driven ideas can transform it from a static flyer into a springboard for engagement. Check out my previous article on 7 Innovative Ways to Start Next School Year Beyond a Traditional Coaching Menu.
4. Attend (or rewatch) a professional learning session
You don’t need a conference badge or spend hours in online training to learn something meaningful this summer. Pick one virtual session, webinar or podcast series that aligns with your growth goals.
Many high-impact, free professional learning resources are available to help you grow your coaching craft in short, focused bursts.
Here are five standout options to consider:
- Sibme Coach Replay Show. Weekly coaching conversations with real experts, classroom footage and downloadable takeaways — perfect for video-based coaching strategies.
- The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast. Insightful episodes on coaching, teaching and leadership with actionable takeaways.
- Edutopia’s YouTube Channel. Short, strategy-packed videos on everything from instructional innovation to classroom management.
- Edutopia’s Instructional Coaching Collection. Short articles on how instructional coaches can support teachers in professional learning, sharing best practices, and instruction.
- Steve Barkley’s Ponder Out Loud Blog and Ponder Out Loud Podcast. Resources for educators include his blog, which contains over 500 posts, including access to his weekly podcast and videos.
Instead of trying to do too much, take notes on one or two ideas you’d like to implement and plan when you’ll try them in the fall.
5. Set 1 to 2 personal goals.
Before the fall rush begins, or you fully embrace the summer season, take a moment to define what kind of coach you want to be next year. Setting clear intentions now creates focus and momentum when school starts.
Reflect on questions like:
- What coaching moves do I want to strengthen?
- What mindset do I want to lead with?
- What habit do I want to sustain all year?
Write your goals down — and even better, schedule a check-in for mid-September to reflect and reset. Summer clarity can lead to fall consistency when we give our goals structure and space to grow. Want a simple way to stay on track? Use the From Clarity to Consistency Coaching Growth Template to help you name, frame and follow through on your coaching goals this year.
You don’t need a comprehensive professional learning calendar to grow this summer; just a few intentional steps that align with your coaching goals. Whether reading one great book, role-playing a tricky conversation or reimagining how you invite teachers into partnership, each small move helps lay the foundation for a stronger, more connected school year. After all, you need to rest and decompress, too!
So choose one strategy that resonates, take action and trust that even the smallest investment in yourself now to strengthen your coaching skills will lead to a meaningful impact later. When you return in the fall, you will be ready, renewed, refocused and rooted in your purpose.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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