Harvard MQI Coaching’s Post

What are 5 key responsibilities of an instructional coach? From providing actionable feedback to guiding data-driven instruction, they are crucial for teacher success! Dive deeper into their impact in our latest blog post. https://lnkd.in/eyDPqGRS

How do you collect data to demonstrate the impact of your coaching program? What methods have you found effective, especially in showing improvement in areas like instructional design or student learning? Here's your answer. Check it out!

We were excited to dig into the emerging insights in the RPPL (Research Partnership for Professional Learning)'s recent report, “A New Model for Supporting Research-Aligned Teacher Development.” NTC is proud to be an affiliate partner in this effort to bring practitioners and providers to the table and inform education research that speaks to the authentic needs of districts, schools, teachers, and students. The findings confirm core principles of our work and push NTC to dig deeper and reach further. Some of our takeaways: 📌“Programs that explicitly attend to and aim to improve teacher-student relationships – rather than only academic content – often have outsize effects.” This finding supports our investment in centering optimal learning environments at the core of our mentoring and coaching model. 📌"One example of this type of field-building infrastructure that creates a common language and supports a shared research agenda is a recently released study that offers a framework for capturing the different types of “coaching moves” that take place during coach-teacher interactions.” We’re inspired by potential research to more closely map coaching “moves” to specific instructional shifts. This will help us better understand how, when, and why NTC’s instructional coaching language and conceptual framework for differentiated coaching correlate to the changes in practice we’re looking for. 📌“In the near term, we are focused on building… A toolkit of standardized data collection items driven by an emphasis on common, shared measures.” We’re following RPPL efforts to collect better data and design measurement tools to support research-aligned teacher development. We will integrate this work into our ongoing partnership efforts to design evidence-based PL. We look forward to sharing and incorporating what the field is learning through RPPL research into our partnerships. Read the report: https://ow.ly/cAnP50UKfCt

💡 Did you know? Instructional coaching has the power to transform teacher efficacy and create lasting impact in schools! Here's how: Personalized Support: Instructional coaching offers strategies tailored to each teacher's unique challenges, empowering them to feel more confident and capable in their roles. Whether it’s addressing classroom management, lesson design, or student engagement, individualized support makes a world of difference. Collaborative Growth: Through reflective dialogue and shared problem-solving, coaching creates opportunities for teachers to refine their skills and experiment with new approaches in a safe, supportive environment. This collaboration fosters professional growth and strengthens team connections. Sustained Impact: Coaching isn’t a one-time intervention—it’s a continuous journey of growth. By focusing on long-term improvement, it helps teachers adopt practices that lead to lasting success for themselves and their students. When teachers feel supported and empowered, the ripple effect is felt throughout classrooms and communities, fostering a culture of learning and excellence. 

In today's ever-evolving educational landscape, the role of instructional coaching has never been more crucial. Instructional coaches are the unsung heroes, providing invaluable support to teachers, enhancing instructional practices, and ultimately, improving student outcomes. Bringing in instructional coaches that are not hired by the district also lifts the barrier between coach and teacher and allows a rich working partnership. 🚀 Why Instructional Coaching Matters: Personalized Professional Development: Tailored coaching sessions address individual teacher needs, fostering continuous growth and development. Collaborative Environment: Coaches create a culture of collaboration, where teachers feel supported and encouraged to innovate and take risks in their teaching. Data-Driven Insights: Through regular observations and feedback, coaches help teachers use data to inform and refine their instructional strategies. Boosting Teacher Confidence: With ongoing support, teachers build confidence in their abilities, leading to more effective and engaging classroom instruction. Sustained Improvement: Unlike one-off workshops, instructional coaching provides sustained, long-term professional development that leads to lasting improvement in teaching practices. 💡 Key Elements of Effective Instructional Coaching: Trust and Relationship Building: Establishing a strong, trusting relationship between coach and teacher is foundational. Clear Goals: Setting specific, measurable goals ensures that both coaches and teachers are working towards a common purpose. Reflective Practice: Encouraging teachers to reflect on their practices promotes self-awareness and continuous improvement. Actionable Feedback: Providing constructive, actionable feedback helps teachers make immediate and impactful changes in their instruction. At the heart of instructional coaching is the belief that every teacher has the potential to grow and that, by supporting their journey, we can make a profound difference in the lives of students. Let's celebrate and support our instructional coaches who are dedicated to enhancing the quality of education for all. 🎉 #InstructionalCoaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #Education #TeacherSupport #StudentSuccess #EdTech #HMH

🚶♂️ Transforming Classroom Walkthroughs into Meaningful Instructional Feedback  Classroom walkthroughs are a widely used tool in instructional leadership, yet their impact often depends on how they are structured and implemented. When walkthroughs are conducted as compliance measures—focused on checklist observations rather than professional dialogue—they can create a culture of scrutiny rather than support. However, when designed with collaborative feedback and teacher growth in mind, walkthroughs become a powerful mechanism for instructional improvement.  ⚡ Key Elements of Effective Walkthroughs  🔹 Purposeful Observation Over Compliance   Walkthroughs should focus on instructional trends rather than isolated performance snapshots. Instead of evaluating individual teachers in a high-stakes manner, they should provide insights into broader teaching and learning practices across the school.  🔹 Inquiry-Based Feedback   Effective walkthroughs prioritize curiosity over judgment. Instead of simply noting areas for improvement, administrators and instructional coaches can ask:   - What strategies are supporting student engagement and comprehension?   - How are students interacting with the content and demonstrating understanding?   - What instructional patterns emerge across classrooms?  This shift fosters a growth-oriented culture where feedback is a conversation, not an evaluation.  🔹 Actionable and Timely Feedback   Feedback should be specific, constructive, and immediately applicable. Teachers benefit most from insights that help them refine instructional strategies in real time. A model that blends brief, targeted feedback with ongoing coaching opportunities ensures that walkthroughs lead to meaningful instructional shifts rather than isolated observations.  🧠 Rethinking Walkthroughs for Long-Term Impact  When walkthroughs are transparent, formative, and centered on professional learning, they contribute to a culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement. Schools that leverage walkthroughs as coaching tools—not just evaluative measures—see higher teacher engagement, improved instructional quality, and ultimately, better student outcomes.  How can we ensure that classroom walkthroughs serve as mechanisms for instructional growth rather than compliance-driven checklists? Let’s discuss.  Read: https://lnkd.in/gNWCDDTv #InstructionalLeadership #TeacherGrowth #ClassroomWalkthroughs #ProfessionalLearning #PLCRight #LetsLearnTogether #LearningThroughDoing

Instructional Coaching As a passionate PYP Coordinator, my mission has always been to foster positive impacts on student learning through innovative teacher professional development. After years of exploring various methods beyond traditional workshops, I recently took a transformative workshop with Jim Knight’s Instructional Coaching Institute. In my latest blog post, I explore: 🔍 The essence of the Impact Cycle: Identify, Learn, Improve 💡 Key takeaways that empower teachers with agency and practical application 📈 Practical examples of how this cycle drives sustained improvements in teaching Join me in discovering how instructional coaching can revolutionize educational practices and create lasting benefits for our students. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eb-ZYtxE #InstructionalCoaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #Education #PYP #StudentLearning #JimKnight #TeachingStrategies #ImpactCycle

Teachers are often their own harshest critics, constantly seeking improvement for their students’ sake. Professional learning that integrates classroom video, human coaching, and AI-driven insights offers a fresh way to enhance professional development practices. This approach provides objective analysis and concrete evidence and fosters a supportive community for educators. The real magic happens when teachers shift their focus from self-criticism to student growth, leading to meaningful changes in their teaching strategies. Combining human touch with technology can create a powerful feedback loop that drives continuous improvement. Imagine the possibilities if every coach and teacher had these tools at their disposal. #Education #Innovation #Coaching

Over the years, as a professional in instructional design and faculty development, I have worked alongside many instructors, guiding them on how to play an active role in online student discussions. I enjoyed synthesizing the research-based best practices that inform my recommendations in this Drive-Thru Pedagogy blog post published by William & Mary - Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation. I look forward to any comments or thoughts on this post and welcome your ideas for topics that I should discuss next!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!! Teaching is getting a lot harder. Your students are kicking off more. The classroom management training that you have received leaves you feeling uninspired, bored and defeated. It is a waste of your time and energy. You genuinely want to help these students, but you feel defeated. You have read the books and taken the courses. But they expect you to memorise ‘scripts’ follow rigid steps that leave your students laughing in your face. This wasn’t what you signed up for when you completed that teaching application. Combined with the excessive workload, it leaves you wondering if you stay in education. I hear you, and I have a solution. Let me introduce you to ‘The Classroom Management Black Belt Course.’ Level 1 will be released on Monday, September 23rd, in 10 days. I created this online course with the busy, stressed teacher in mind, giving you evidence based practical techniques that you can use in minutes and have a maximum impact in your classrooms. In Level 1, I will give you three tools that, when practised, will quickly make you a classroom management ‘black belt'. These techniques have been battle-tested and formed the basis of the award-winning Action Hero Teacher book series. With these techniques, you will be able to: • Give praise and inspire even your most disengaged students • Become a better communicator and more persuasive • Use a practical framework to soothe dysregulated learners and stop future flashpoints I have been working on this course for almost a year and I'm so happy to finally share it with you! If you want to know more, click the link below and join my ‘Interest List’ to get more information and exclusives before launch. 😎👇🏾 https://shorturl.at/y6CXJ You’re gonna love it! Karl