What's in this webpage
This webpage will both describe what a CSM Coach does (and doesn't) do, and then describe how one becomes a coach.
What CSM Coaches do
CSM Coaches do NOT teach math, literacy and problem solving. They are not functioning as subject matter experts teaching academic skills, because it's the students' job to learn the academic skills on their own. This means that coaches do not need to be professional instructors, and people with all sorts of backgrounds can become CSM Coaches. If you are concerned about your own ability to become a CSM Coach, please contact us at hello@smilabs.org.
Instead, the coaches are focusing on other aspects of High Performance competencies: how to learn on your own through reading; better persistence; better attention to detail; and higher self-efficacy, the earned belief in your ability to succeed. To help with these competencies, CSM coaches give high 5's, kicks in the pants, guide students on pacing their way through CSM, and work with students on their learning strategies, persistence, and attention to detail.
The coach has help through the CSM Toolkit, an advanced coaching interface that provides detailed information on student learning strategies and behaviors, as well as suggested interventions targeted at the specific student.
A CSM Coach can work with students either in a classroom or online. In classroom the coach and student can talk directly, but online, the coach interacts with the students through texting, a message system internal to CSM, through telephone and zoom. It's not necessary for the coach to be always available -- many students are working late at night or on weekends -- as CSM generally is taking care of most student needs. If a student is stuck, CSM will find a new lesson for them to learn.
How to become a CSM Coach
The CSM Coach has different responsibilities than a normal teacher, and therefore the training is much different, as well. To become a CSM Coach, you take the CSM HHigh Performance Coaching course -- a self-paced, online course that takes most people 4-6 hours to complete. During this course, you will:
- take the first few CSM skills, so that you understand the student experience
- learn the philosophy of being a CSM Coach, and answer some written questions about the coaches role (which we'll read and make comments on)
- learn about the CSM Toolkit and how to use it to help student
The goal of the course is to make sure that the coach feels comfortable with their first cohort of students -- they will gain confidence over time, and the Toolkit also serves as extended professional development throughout your time as a coach. In addition, we provide coaches with contact information, where they can talk at any time with expert coaches at SeeMore Impact Labs.
You are at an organization
Most people becoming coaches are at an already formed CSM organization. In order to access the CSM High Performance Coaching Course, you need to contact the coordinator for the organization, and ask them to register you as a coach. After you login, there will be a button on the left taking you to the coaching course. The course is free.
You are by yourself
You may be by yourself -- for example, as a homeschool parent -- or with an organization that hasn't been registered yet. In this case, register your organization by going to www.smilabs.org and click on the "Go to CSM" button on the right side of the top bar. From there, click on register, and you should have your organization registered within minutes. This is free. Afterwards, there will be a button on the left taking you to the coaching course.
Make sure students have coaches!!
We have found that almost all students benefits from having a coach, no matter how advanced their previous educational training. Learning is a social activity, and it's good to have someone there with you, and people with advanced degrees often have many other things on their mind, and can forget to make progress on CSM.
Whoever the student is, they will likely finish CSM more quickly and have a more enjoyable time on CSM. If you are having trouble organizing a coach for your students, please contact us at hello@smilabs.org and we can help you brainstorm on getting a coach for your students. For example, adults in West Virginia can get free CSM with a personal coach -- click here for more information, and SeeMore Impact Labs can supply an expert online coach for a modest fee (see www.smilabs.org for more information).
