Coaching vs Mentoring

As an experienced teacher, you have probably overseen many student teachers completing their ‘school experience’ or practicum as we sometimes refer to it. Are you still thinking: ‘What is all the fuss about? I have been mentoring for years’. After completing the previous unit, perhaps you have realised that you may have been coaching and not mentoring, and that mentorship involves so much more.

Consider the figure below. It gives a clear comparison between mentoring and coaching.

adapted from http://www.curee.co.uk

Carefully study the diagram and consider the following information: the aspects common to all three types of guidance the main differences between coaching and mentoring the activities that may be completely overlooked in a simple coaching relationship