Key Instructional Practices

When my little sister was a competitive gymnast as a child, I vividly remember her struggling to get her kip on the uneven bars. The kip is a foundational move in which a gymnast glides forward and up, raising to perch above the bar. This then enables her to flow into various other moves, including a transition to the high bar.

The image of the kip gymnastics move is what I now use to talk to teachers about Key Instructional Practices- KIPs that raise teaching to a higher bar. KIPs can be thought of as foundational strategies that can be built on to result in high-quality teaching and learning. They can also be considered Tier 1 supports for the whole class in a multi-tiered system of support framework.

I believe that there are some KIPs that are universally applicable for teachers, such as intentional lesson planning and the use of formative assessment strategies. Planning solid objectives for lessons raises the bar for student learning to a much higher level then aimless instruction. Likewise, checking for student understanding frequently through formative assessments ensures that students actually meet the learning objectives!

Other KIPs I often talk about include the use of explicit instruction (I do, We do, You do format, or Model, Coach, Fade approach), opportunities for frequent retrieval practice, and meaningful or authentic summative assessments. Finally, developing a culture of learning and fostering a growth mindset in both students and faculty could be considered a KIP that raises the bar for learning.

Schools or individual teachers could benefit from reflecting on what strategies they value most as Key Instructional Practices to elevate learning in their classrooms. Then, choose one or two KIPs to focus on over the course of a semester or year and see how much teaching and learning can improve. Just like my sister getting herself to swing from the high bar, teachers are capable of great things with intentional effort!