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[JHON W. STALEY]

CROSS CONTENT | TOOLS
[INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE GUIDE]

Observe high-quality, standards-aligned instruction in action. The Instructional Practice Guide (IPG) is designed around Core Actions that encompass the Shifts in instructional practice required by the college- and career-ready standards, including the Common Core.

NEW OBSERVATION TOOL

If you use the IPG, consider checking out the *new* Essential X Equitable (e²) Learning Walk Tool™ which centers an expanded definition of what it means for instruction to be high-quality. This new tool maintains the IPG’s emphasis on Essential grade-level mathematics and literacy content and strengthens the attention to fostering instruction that is asset-based and joyful.

If you would like to learn more about Essential x Equitable (e²) Instructional Practice™, click here. If you currently use the IPG and want to learn more about how the e² Learning Walk Tool™ builds on this foundation, explore this resource and/or contact us here.

INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE GUIDE (IPG) PRINTABLE VERSIONS
PDF
ELA/Literacy
Grades K-2: Reading/Listening Comprehension
download
PDF
ELA/Literacy
Foundational Skills Observation Tool
download
PDF
ELA/Literacy
Grades 3-12
download
PDF
Mathematics
Grades K-8
download
PDF
Mathematics
High School
download
PDF
History/Social Studies
Grades 6-12
download
PDF
History/Social Studies
Supplement for Reflection Over the Course of the Year
download
PDF
Science & Technical Subjects
Grades 6-12
download
PDF
Science & Technical Subjects
Supplement for Reflection Over the Course of the Year
download

Beyond the Lesson Discussion Guide

Beyond the Lesson discussion questions are designed for the one-to-one conversation following a classroom observation using the Instructional Practice Guide (IPG). The questions put the content of the lesson in the context of the broader instructional plan for the unit or year.

PDF
Beyond the Lesson: ELA/Literacy
download
PDF
Beyond the Lesson: Mathematics
download

Best Practices

We recommend familiarizing yourself with the Core Actions and Indicators by using the training materials and resources provided below. Here are some additional tips for using the tool:

  • It is important to know the text (ELA/literacy) or standard (mathematics) that will be addressed in the lesson.
  • It is unlikely that the lesson structure will follow the order of the Instructional Practice Guide. Consider capturing your notes and evidence in one place and then tying it back to the Core Actions and Indicators after your observation.
  • Although many Indicators will be observable during the course of a lesson, there may be times when a lesson is appropriately focused on a smaller set of objectives or only a portion of a lesson is observed, and some Indicators will be left blank. We recommend asking the teacher to share any intended focus prior to the start of the observation.

Multiple observations will allow you to view a teacher’s practice over time and observe the full range of teacher and student behaviors related to the presence of aligned classroom content detailed in the Instructional Practice Guide.

Professional Development

Use these Core Action-based activities and discussions for ELA/literacy and mathematics, according to your needs, in order to:

  • Understand the relationship between the instructional Shifts and the Instructional Practice Guide.
  • Identify teacher and student actions that may be present in aligned lessons according to the Instructional Practice Guide.
  • Observe and reflect on the alignment of a lesson using the Instructional Practice Guide.
TOOLKIT
ELA/Literacy
download
TOOLKIT
Mathematics
download
OTHER RESOURCES
PDF
Learn what makes instructional practice aligned.
Tools for identifying and applying the Shifts in the classroom
download
PDF
Instructional Practice Guide: Coaching (Digital)
download

book