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The IC Toolkit
A Joint Publication with Learning Forward
Foreword by Frederick Brown
Preorder The IC Toolkit with code KNIGHT30 and get 30% off your entire order!
This book guides instructional coaches through a 36-week journey of practice, reflection, and learning using concrete tools such as activities, checklists, case studies, and videos.
- Grade Level: PreK-12
- ISBN: 9781071971581
- Published By: Corwin
- Year: 2024
- Page Count: 336
- Publication date: October 22, 2024
Price: $39.95
Review Copies
Description
Refine the art and craft of instructional coaching.
For more than 25 years, Jim Knight and his team at the Instructional Coaching Group have been studying what excellence in instructional coaching looks and sounds like. Their findings—organized around 7 Success Factors for instructional coaches and shared via books, articles, and workshops—have helped many instructional coaches around the world to increase teacher effectiveness and improve outcomes for students. Bringing together for the first time a wealth of resources and practical tools, The IC Toolkit is designed to guide instructional coaches—either individually or, preferably, collectively—through a 36-week journey of practice, reflection, and learning. For instructional coaches who want to improve and leaders who want to set up meaningful learning experiences, the book provides concrete tools—including activities, checklists, case studies, and videos—that you can use every week.
Additional features include
- One-page descriptions of each success factor
- A needs assessment to gauge your instructional coaching proficiency in the 7 Success Factors
- Learning paths to guide your use of the resources and enable meaningful exploration of each success factor
- End-of-chapter reflection questions
The IC Toolkit makes it possible for every instructional coach to become highly proficient in the Success Factors. When instructional coaches become highly proficient in their craft, we can see students, teachers, and systems flourish.
Author(s)
Jim Knight
Dr. Jim Knight, Founder and Senior Partner of Instructional Coaching Group (ICG), is also a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning. He has spent more than two decades studying professional learning and instructional coaching. Jim earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards.
The pioneering work Jim and his colleagues have conducted has led to many innovations that are now central to professional development in schools. Jim wrote the first major article about instructional coaching for the Journal of Staff Development, and his book Instructional Coaching (2007) offered the first extended description of instructional coaching. Jim’s book Focus on Teaching (2014) was the first extended description of how video should be used for professional learning. Recently, writing with Ann Hoffman, Michelle Harris, and Sharon Thomas, Jim introduced the idea of instructional playbooks with their book on that topic.
Jim has written several books in addition to those described above, including Unmistakable Impact (2011), High-Impact Instruction (2013), Better Conversations (2015), The Impact Cycle (2018), and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021). Knight has also authored articles on instructional coaching and professional learning in publications such as Educational Leadership, The Journal of Staff Development, Principal Leadership, The School Administrator, and Kappan. Jim is also a columnist for Educational Leadership and.
Through ICG, Knight conducts coaching workshops, hosts the Facebook Live Program, “Coaching Conversations,” and provides consulting for coaching programs around the world.
Jessica Wise
Dr. Jessica Wise is a Virtual Consultant with the Instructional Coaching Group. Beginning her career in education in 2007, Jessica has held various roles including a classroom teacher, school-based instructional coach and intervention/gifted teacher, district literacy specialist, and then leadership & staff development instructional coach. Jessica received her doctoral degree in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia where her focus was facilitation of adult learning. When not working, Jessica enjoys hiking, movie night with her family, and reading. She lives in Georgia with her family.
Michelle Harris
Amy Musante
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Chapter 1 – The Partnership Principles
Chapter 2 – Communication Skills
Chapter 3 – Coaches as Leaders
Chapter 4 – The Impact Cycle
Chapter 5 – Data
Chapter 6 – The Instructional Playbook
Chapter 7 – System Support
Conclusion
References
Reviews
"Jim Knight seems to have ‘magic’ in his coaching skills, and I marvel at his successes. I have read his books, but the secret sauce evades me. This is the coaches' instructional bible that shows the way and more than changes how we increase the impact of our teaching; it explains how to change lives. It starts from the humility and courage of the coach, the listening and responsive skills, and the attentiveness to the impact on the coach and the coached. Including guidance on how to have coaching conversations, build faith in people to improve, invoke deep work to make deep change, and implement PEERS goals, Knight and colleagues provide a comprehensive guide to high-impact coaching."John Hattie, Melbourne Laureate Professor Emeritus
Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne
"Jim Knight and the ICG, who we rely upon to stay current on research and best practices in the world of instructional coaching, are back with a must-read for elevating our coaching knowledge, skills, and practice! Readers will find the unique structure of this text appealing. The authors have curated learning paths that include a compilation of vetted resources, adaptable protocols, and reflection questions for processing both independently and collaboratively. This form of inquiry is designed to move us from simply learning about coaching to considering why and how to integrate the essential “Success Factors” into the dynamic work of a coach! This interactive toolkit should be part of every coach and coach champion’s collection!"
Marquitis Adams"Jim Knight and the ICG, who we rely upon to stay current on research and best practices in the world of instructional coaching, are back with a must-read for elevating our coaching knowledge, skills, and practice! Readers will find the unique structure of this text appealing. The authors have curated learning paths that include a compilation of vetted resources, adaptable protocols, and reflection questions for processing both independently and collaboratively. This form of inquiry is designed to move us from simply learning about coaching to considering why and how to integrate the essential “Success Factors” into the dynamic work of a coach! This interactive toolkit should be part of every coach and coach champion’s collection!"
Instructional Coach, Gwinnett County Public Schools
"Another great book from Jim Knight and the team at ICG.
Full of great ideas and strategies to help anyone improve and hone their instructional coaching skills. I love the Learning Pathways and the way the book has been structured simply and clearly around the seven factors for success, starting with a guiding question, followed by a tailored article, linked to activities and resources.This book is a must read for everyone, coaches, teachers and leaders."
Mark Verde"Another great book from Jim Knight and the team at ICG.
Full of great ideas and strategies to help anyone improve and hone their instructional coaching skills. I love the Learning Pathways and the way the book has been structured simply and clearly around the seven factors for success, starting with a guiding question, followed by a tailored article, linked to activities and resources.This book is a must read for everyone, coaches, teachers and leaders."
Vice Principal, Bangkok Patana School
"As second-year coaches, the IC Toolkit is exactly what we were looking for to continue our learning after the 16 Week Virtual Coaching Institute. Written in a way that respects professional autonomy and choice, it digs deeper into the Seven Success Factors, while providing ample opportunity for reflection and dialogue with colleagues. Our team can always count on the Instructional Coaching Group for timely, relevant, evidence-based, and actionable ideas and strategies that we can implement to improve our practice. We highly recommend the IC Toolkit for instructional coaches, teacher leaders, or administrators who seek to continually cultivate their curiosity through ongoing professional learning and development."
Lauren Bernstein; Tricia Burbank; Leah Dowd; Laurie Higgins"As second-year coaches, the IC Toolkit is exactly what we were looking for to continue our learning after the 16 Week Virtual Coaching Institute. Written in a way that respects professional autonomy and choice, it digs deeper into the Seven Success Factors, while providing ample opportunity for reflection and dialogue with colleagues. Our team can always count on the Instructional Coaching Group for timely, relevant, evidence-based, and actionable ideas and strategies that we can implement to improve our practice. We highly recommend the IC Toolkit for instructional coaches, teacher leaders, or administrators who seek to continually cultivate their curiosity through ongoing professional learning and development."
Wilkins School Coaching Team, Wilkins Elementary School