My teaching partner and I have entered the Learn and Improve phases of Jim Knight’s Impact Cycle. After setting clear instructional goals and discussing various options, I provided my teaching partner with checklists to guide them in implementing the strategies we discussed. This post provides an insight into our journey.
Learn Phase: Utilizing Checklists
Checklists are invaluable tools for coaches introducing new teaching practices. They distill complex practices into essential steps, making them easier for teachers to process and implement effectively (Knight, 2018). Their concise format facilitates understanding and ensures consistency in applying instructional strategies. Jim Knight provides a brief explanation of checklists in the video below. Checklists are widely used in other fields like medicine and aviation, where they enhance safety and adherence to protocols (Kumar, 2024). Similarly, in education, checklists support teachers in maintaining focus on instructional goals, helping students to reach those goals.
To support my teaching partner, I created a set of checklists to align with our goals and selected learning activities. In previous years, my partner had noted that students often struggled with Animal Farm due to limited background knowledge of the Russian Revolution, World War II, and key political figures of the era, hindering their grasp of the novel’s satirical and allegorical dimensions. To address this, we decided students would create a glossary of key political figures and concepts, with connections to the novel’s characters and events. The teacher would facilitate this by designing a Choice Board of curated resources, providing hyperlinks to age-appropriate, high-quality materials. This glossary would be a “living document,” with frequent check-ins to refine connections as students deepen their understanding of the historical context and its portrayal in the text. This resource will culminate in a reflective essay at the end of the unit.
You can see the checklists I created for my teaching partner by clicking the image to the left. I did a modification of a Learning Map. Initially, I intended to use only the “Checklist: Choice Board/Glossary.” However, after further discussions, my teaching partner and I identified the need for additional checklists focused on designing the Choice Board, daily integration of the Choice Board and glossary, and using the Choice Board as a review tool for the reflective essay. After sharing these checklists, we rehearsed these strategies during our planning period.
Improve Phase: Putting Strategies into Action
The Improve Phase of Knight’s (2018) Impact Cycle comprises four steps: Confirm Direction, Review Progress, Invent Improvements, and Plan Next Actions. As I read about this phase, I found myself comparing it to a well-planned vacation. Just as one would outline travel plans, destinations, and activities beforehand, the first step, Confirming Direction, requires setting a clear path forward. During the journey, travelers evaluate how well the trip is going, akin to Reviewing Progress. If needed, adjustments are made to enhance the experience, representing the Invent Improvements step. Finally, each leg of the journey concludes with a plan for the next, reflecting Plan Next Actions.
In our Improve Phase, we recognized the need for greater intentionality in having students use their Choice Boards and glossaries to make meaningful connections with their reading. As students progressed, their understanding of historical concepts naturally deepened, paralleling the novel’s character development. Daily check-ins facilitated discussions around the glossary, prompting students to refine their descriptions and recognize the glossary’s practical value in supporting their learning.
Closing Thoughts
I look forward to observing how well students demonstrate their understanding of the satirical and allegorical elements of Animal Farm and how they apply this understanding to current politics in their reflective essays. This coaching experience has been enriching, expanding my knowledge of content beyond my teaching area. The collaboration and reflective practice inherent in the coaching process have been energizing for both my teaching partner and me.
References
Instructional Coaching Group. (2024, May 14). The Impact Cycle: Learn Stage – Checklists [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=KOFfVO5p3vk
Knight, J. (2018). The impact cycle: What instructional coaches should do to foster powerful improvements in teaching. Corwin, A SAGE Company.
Kumar, P. I. (2024). The checklist protocol. IJVES Case Reports, 2(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijcr.ijcr_3_24
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