digiCOACH is designed to support professional conversations, encourage reflection, and help teachers grow in their practice. By ensuring transparency, engaging teachers in the process, and making walkthroughs a tool for professional learning, schools can create a culture where coaching is embraced, instructional decisions are informed by data, and teachers feel empowered to continuously refine their craft.
1. Build Transparency and Teacher Buy-In
Successful implementation starts with open conversations about the purpose of walkthroughs and a shared understanding of how the data will be used. The most powerful professional learning happens when teachers are at the center of the conversation, unpacking the data and leading discussions about instructional growth through their professional learning communities (PLC).
Bring Teachers Into the Conversation: Before launching walkthroughs, schedule a time to introduce digiCOACH to your staff. Click here to download the digiCOACH Staff Introduction PowerPoint to help facilitate discussions around:
- ✅ Walkthroughs as coaching, collaboration, and professional learning.
- ✅ The type of data collected and how it will be used to guide reflection and growth.
- ✅ The value of exploring data trends together.
- ✅ How to use walkthrough data to facilitate reflection, refine approaches, and celebrate success and growth.
Encourage teachers to ask questions, share thoughts, and discuss what areas of focus would be most meaningful to them. Walkthroughs are most effective when teachers see them as a tool for growth, not as an evaluation.
2. Consider Which Teachers to Visit First
When rolling out digiCOACH, begin with teachers who have a growth mindset and can help build momentum with digiCOACH. Consider starting with:
- The teacher who volunteers
- The teacher who wants to try something new
- The teacher with positive influence in the grade level
- The teacher who has effective instructional practices in place
By starting with enthusiastic educators, you can build a strong foundation of collaboration and shared learning and help other teachers see the benefits of walkthroughs.
3. Setting Up Your Walkthroughs for Success
Once teachers understand the purpose of walkthroughs, it’s important to set clear expectations and establish a structure that ensures walkthroughs are purposeful and productive.
📅 Calendar Your Walkthroughs: Scheduling walkthroughs in advance makes them a consistent and valued part of professional learning. Regular walkthroughs help create an ongoing cycle of reflection and growth.
🎯 Identify the Purpose of the Walkthroughs: Clearly defining what you will be focusing on before each walkthrough ensures that feedback is meaningful and aligned to instructional goals. A targeted focus ensures neither observers or teachers feel overwhelmed by the new process. Consider collaborating with your teachers to select specific look-fors that the team wants to explore.
📊 Establish a Coaching Cycle for Each Focus: Many schools find that focusing on one instructional area for 4–6 weeks leads to more meaningful engagement and measurable improvement, giving teachers time to reflect and refine before shifting focus. Click here to explore our guide for establishing coaching cycles.
By fostering transparency, collaboration, and growth-focused conversations, you can ensure that walkthroughs become a valuable tool for professional learning. Start by engaging teachers, setting a clear purpose, and using digiCOACH to support actionable feedback. Let’s build a coaching culture where teachers lead the conversation and data drives meaningful growth. Contact our team to start your journey today!
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