Learning tools

BOOK: Educational experts agree that quality teaching is the single most important factor in improving educational outcomes for all students. Leading for Instructional Improvement shows how teacher, school and district leaders can cultivate the expertise of teachers to deliver high-quality instruction.

BOOK: Leading for Professional Learning offers field-tested guidance to help school leaders more effectively support teachers’ professional development. With an illustrative case study, this book provides invaluable guidance and is packed with practical tools, processes and expert advice.

CASE STUDY: Rethink your approach to teacher professional learning with this short document that offers a vision for transformative teacher learning and suggests recommendations for first steps you can take. You can use this with the Teacher Learning Guiding Principles as you work to increase collective efficacy on behalf of your students.

CASE STUDY: This case study, reprinted with permission from the National Association of Elementary School Principals, illustrates what is possible when school leaders work on beliefs alongside practices, emphasize all students’ ability to engage in rigorous math and create opportunities for teachers to engage in intensive, collaborative practice.   

TOOL: Build understanding of what good teaching looks like with a growth-oriented tool for improving instruction based on the 5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning™ instructional framework.

TOOL: Explore seven characteristics to guide the growth and development of instructional leadership team members. Instructional leadership teams are a great opportunity to strengthen teacher leadership in support of a school’s vision and mission.

TOOL: Develop a rationale behind your strategies and articulate your thinking by generating an evidence-based story that explains the specific changes you intend to make to improve teaching and learning.

TOOL: Engage in a four-phase process of continuous improvement for principal supervisors and school leaders to collaboratively improve and analyze instruction.  

TOOL: Strengthen how you actively listen to students with this guide that empowers students to tell their stories about their school experiences. Designed by students for students, this guide can be downloaded here.

TOOL: Advance your knowledge and understanding of classroom observation with practical, actionable guidance. This tool outlines the supporting theory, logistical considerations and possible leadership actions behind the three types of classroom observations, illuminating the purposes and techniques behind them.

WEBINAR: Learn instructional-leadership strategies to help principals, coaches and central office leaders to keep students at the center of their work — and improve their ability to give feedback and plan professional development. This is a series of three webinars.

WHITE PAPER: Principal supervisors help improve schools when they emphasize principal growth and learning. But transforming the role of principal supervisors to help grow principals’ instructional leadership skills is challenging. Learn how a group of school systems used research to redesign principal supervisor positions and tackle early implementation challenges.