Coaching is a journey of discovery

Coaching is a journey. We get on and ride. We get off. We get back on and ride some more. Along the way there are accidents and surprises. Some of these will bring great joy or sadness.

When we first get on the ride, we meet people who we think will be with us forever.

This is far from the truth. We are with them for as long as we need each other. They have individual journeys they must complete on their own. We will live with their memory.

There are others who board the ride who will become very important to us. These are people who we will learn alongside.

Some people consider their ride a scenic tour. They will just go along for the ride.

Others, will be scared, upset, shed tears and experience losses on the journey.

Others still, will offer a helping hand to anyone in need.

Some people on the ride will leave a long lasting impression when they get off...

Some will get on and get off the ride so quickly, the will barely leave a sign that they ever travelled along side you.

We will sometimes get upset that some of our fellow passengers, will choose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own.

But, why can’t we seek them out anyway?

However, once sought out and found, we may not be able to sit next to them because the seat will be already taken.

It is O.K. ... everyone’s journey is different and will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, setbacks and goodbyes.We must strive to make the best of it ... No matter what...

We must constantly strive to understand our travel companions and look for the best in everyone.

Remember that at any moment during our journey, any one of our travel companions can have a weak moment and be in need of our help.

We too can trip and fall ... Hopefully we can count on someone being there to be supportive and understanding ...

The bigger mystery of our ride is that we don’t know when we’re going to stop.Neither do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop. Not even those sitting beside us.

I will be sad when I stop ... I’m sure of it! But then again I am sure that when we all meet up at the terminal one day, we will all be carrying extra baggage ... most of which we didn’t have when we got on our first ride.

I will be happy to see them again. I will be pleased to have added to their baggage ... and to have enriched their lives, just as much as they have contributed to mine.

We are all on this journey together. Above all we should make our ride a pleasant and memorable for everyone.

Safe Journey!

“7 Guiding Principles for Effective Literacy Coaching”- Enrique A. Puig Florida Literacy and Reading Excellence Center University of Central Florida”

http://www.wepapers.com/Papers/79674/7_Guiding_Principles_for_Effective_Literacy__Coaching.ppt