Abstract
As our knowledge about education continues to change, educators must refine and redefine their beliefs and teaching practices through professional development. In the peer coaching model of professional development, both participants have a chance to reflect on what they observe and on their own teaching practices. This reciprocal gain is one of the major benefits of peer coaching. This study examined the experiences of elementary mathematics teachers engaging in a peer coaching model of professional development. A Grade 1 and a Grade 3 teacher in Western Canada act as the participants in this case study and qualitative data were gathered from teacher interviews and observations of peer coaching sessions. Each teacher selected two dimensions from the Ten Dimensions framework for professional growth. This framework allows teachers to focus on the areas of teaching practices that generate higher levels of student achievement. The findings focus on three major areas, highlighting: (1) the fact that resources are needed to support the peer coaching process; (2) the challenges of peer coaching; and (3) the benefits of peer coaching. Overall, participants valued the peer coaching process and declared its collaborative nature as the greatest benefit.