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If you’ve ever walked out of a math coaching session wondering whether you made an impact, you’re not alone. Many instructional coaches step into the role because they were strong in the classroom—but math coaching teachers requires a different skillset. You’re no longer the expert in front of the room; you’re the thinking partner beside it. And that shift can be tough. This episode explores how to stop feeling pressure to have all the answers—and start guiding teachers to uncover their own.

In this practical, mindset-shifting episode, you’ll learn:

• The 7 go-to coaching questions every math coach (or any coach!) should keep in their back pocket to guide reflective, teacher-led conversations.
• How to reduce resistance by helping teachers take something off their plates—not add more to them.
• Why holding back advice (yes, really) can lead to deeper impact, stronger relationships, and better instructional decisions.

Hit play now and start using questions that build trust, unlock clarity, and make every coaching moment count.

Attention District Math Leaders:

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Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com 

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Coaching teachers can be tough. A lot of times we get into coaching, or we are in a coaching role because we were great in the classroom. You know, we were using effective teaching practices, getting good results with students. Students probably liked you. You were tapped on the shoulder to move up or move sideways and go, “I want to transition what I’ve been doing in the class to other teachers.”

We engage with teachers regularly, trying to progress them along in their journey. And sometimes we think about being that person who has to give the advice when we’re in that role—especially when we first get into it. You might think, “I’m coaching, I’ve got to make sure there’s value here today. I don’t want to waste the teacher’s time.” That feeling is real.

But the real value in our coaching is getting the teachers we’re working with to realize where they struggle, what they need. Half the battle is getting them to recognize those things themselves. What do you need? What do you need to work on today?

There are seven questions I keep in my back pocket when engaging with teachers to help them progress and reflect on their practice—especially in math classrooms. These questions are borrowed from The Coaching Habit, a book Kyle and I have read numerous times and frequently reference on the Making Math Moments That Matter podcast. We use these questions in our coaching sessions to create powerful, reflective conversations.

These are the questions to keep handy when walking into a classroom, a PLC, or a one-on-one session with a teacher. The first question, often called the kickoff question, is “What’s on your mind?” It’s a way to open things up and allow the teacher to share what’s pressing. We often ask, “What’s a pebble in your shoe right now that we could pluck out?” It lets them start the conversation and identify where they feel struggle. This sets the tone: you’re here to help them with their priorities.

Many teachers push back on coaching because they feel like it just adds more to their plate. We need them to feel that we’re taking something off their plate—not piling on. That pebble question helps shift that dynamic.

The next key question is “And what else?” When you ask the pebble question, you’ll hear one or two concerns, but by asking “What else?”, you open the door to deeper reflection. It actually helps narrow the conversation down to what truly matters.

Then comes, “What’s the real challenge here for you?” This question gets to the core. It’s not just about listing problems—it’s about identifying the one that matters most. You can also ask, “Where can we make the most dent?” or “What’s really going on?”

Another one we use instead of “What do you want?” is the magic wand question: “If you could wave a magic wand and fix one thing this week, what would it be?” It helps them clarify their goal.

Then we ask, “What’s holding you back?” This replaces the typical “What are we saying no to?” and instead helps surface the real barriers—whether it’s lack of confidence, uncertainty about student response, or curriculum challenges.

At this point, you’ve likely uncovered the real issue. That’s when you hold off on jumping into advice mode. Wait until the teacher articulates that core problem. That’s when your input becomes most valuable and relevant.

The sixth question is “How can I help?” or rephrased: “What can we work on together to move this forward?” Now that the issue is clear, you can co-develop the next steps.

The final question we like to end with is, “What was most useful for you today?” or “What’s your biggest takeaway?” This helps the teacher reflect, internalize the learning, and voice where they saw value. It also gives you insight into what actually landed—often it’s different from what you expected.

These seven questions help keep the conversation teacher-centered, focused, and trust-building. When teachers reflect more deeply, your coaching becomes more impactful. And the relationship? Stronger than ever.

Relational trust is everything in coaching. As our mentor Jim Strachan reminds us, trust grows through thoughtful conversation. These seven questions are a powerful way to get there.

Next time you’re coaching, have a few of these ready—and see where the conversation goes.

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