Model Classrooms Project Coaching

Onsite Instructional Support/Coaching occurs during the school year while classes are in session. Several different formats are used.

Instructional Coaching involves a Curriculum Project consultant visiting the classrooms of one or two teachers per period throughout the day. Anecdotal notes are taken regarding the instructional strategies being used in each of the six MCP categories. Later in the day, or on the following day, teachers meet in groups with a Curriculum Project consultant or an onsite facilitator to discuss the notes that were taken and to help one another refine their techniques to get the most out of their instructional efforts. This is the most common, ongoing service that we offer - because it works!

Instructional Leader Coaching involves a Curriculum Project consultant visiting the classrooms of several teachers per period with instructional leaders such as district administrators, building administrators, department or grade level chairs, etc. During each visit, each participant records notes on the instructional strategies being used in each of the six MCP categories. After each visit, the group discusses their observations with one another in order to establish a common language regarding instructional strategies and to reinforce common instructional goals throughout the campus. This service is typically used during the first year or two of implementation and anytime thereafter when additional instructional leaders are brought onboard.

Instructional Acknowledgement involves a Curriculum Project consultant visiting the classrooms of many teachers throughout the school day to gather campus-wide notes regarding instructional strategies being used in each of the six MCP categories. Later in the day, the Curriculum Project consultant meets with one or more instructional leaders to celebrate progress and to establish logical next steps regarding implementation. This service is used intermittently to give building leaders a read on implementation from an outside observer.

Classroom Visitation & Vignettes involve a Curriculum Project consultant visiting the classrooms of several teachers during the school day to capture promising practices through still photography and video (new during 2010/11). The still photographs are inserted into PowerPoint slides and accompanied by text explanations to celebrate a well-taught lesson that can be shared as a training tool with other educators. Video clips will be used beginning in 2010/11 to capture segments of lessons that can be used to help other educators refine and build upon their own instructional techniques. The PowerPoint vignettes have been powerful tools in letting other teachers see and discuss MCP implementation by others, and we believe video clips will be even more effective for sharing visions of excellent instruction.