Monitoring for Best Instructional Practices

Debbie Cargill
Aug 01, 2011

How do leaders monitor for implementation of best instructional practices?

Although building administrators have many roles, one of the most critical is the role of instructional leader for the school. In this role, principals focus on instruction and learning. When a school selects a change model, such as the LEARNING-FOCUSED Strategies Model, what role does the principal play in the implementation? In reality, the way that change is implemented impacts the effectiveness of the new implementation.

In Schmoker's book Focus, he talks about focusing on the important stuff. In Qualities of Effective Principals, Strong, Richard, and Catano address the issues that are important when planning for monitoring a new implementation. This article looks at the principal's role in terms of commitment, expectations, and follow-through.

Commitment - how do principals communicate their own commitment to the implementation?
• Communicate the vision and encourage buy in
• Participate in training/learning opportunities with teachers
• Create opportunities for open discussions and dialogue with individuals and teams/grade levels - keep the conversation going
• Know what is important about good instruction

Expectations - how will teachers know what is expected with this implementation?
• Communicate, communicate, communicate
• Start slow, small steps and add to - continuous improvement
• Identify target areas for improving instruction
• Identify specific strategies or pieces of the framework for implementation
• Identify specific look fors and ask abouts
• Consistent and pervasive is key
• Set expectations for student work

Follow-through - how will the implementation be monitored?
• Walkthroughs, observations, frequent classroom visits
• Inspect what you expect
• Collaboration - keep the conversation going
• Collect data/evidence and analyze instruction
• Provide feedback that helps teachers improve
• Provide support (coaching) for implementation
• Know when to intervene if instruction needs to improve
• Provide professional development based on instructional/learning needs

Effective monitoring of any new implementation can positively impact student learning/achievement. Although the principal is primarily responsible for a new implementation, a strong leadership team and commitment/buy in from all staff will lead to a successful implementation.