Every in person event includes the workshop readings and materials with your registration costs. While every offering has a unique focus, they all share foundational strategies.
Instructional coaches learn essential tools to enhance their coaching skills, enabling them to provide impactful support to schools and educators.
Administrators
With instructional coaches certified in the Jim Knight Impact Cycle, administrators see increased teacher satisfaction and retention rates, resulting in enhanced student achievement.
Teachers
ICG coaching programs center on collaborating with teachers to reach their student-centered goals and monitor progress utilizing the Impact Cycle methodology.
Students
A dedicated community of professionals committed to student support fosters improved classroom performance and advancements in student progress and learning outcomes.
Topics Covered
This list provides a glimpse of some topics we explore in our workshops.
01
The Impact Cycle
The Impact Cycle–the product of 20 years of ICG research, provides a framework for any coaching scenario. Participants will gain experience using it through examples and guided exercises.
02
Better Conversations
Effective coaches, leaders, and educators communicate their message clearly, build healthy connections with others, and maneuver through emotionally complex situations.
03
System Support
It is crucial that administrators participate in professional development that clarifies what coaches do and how they can be supported.
04
Leadership Coaching
A strong coaching process and key coaching skills, can make a significant and immediate difference in the conversations in which school leaders engage every day.
05
Increasing Achievement
Strategies to increase achievement that ensure teachers remain in touch with student progress toward clearly established goals.
The Experts Behind the Instructional Coaching Group
ICG consultants are the only individuals trained and certified by Jim Knight to deliver training on his research-validated Impact Cycle instructional coaching model.
Yes! If hosting ICG workshops at your school isn’t workable, we also offer many of them virtually. Our virtual workshops deliver the same comprehensive support as our on-site sessions.
The workshops serve educators, coaches, and administrators of any grade level and subject. We can further tailor our workshops to your school or district’s unique needs.
We do! Coaches, administrators, and educators all require guidance to build thriving coaching programs. Often, it’s through practical application, not just workshops, that they can truly practice what they’ve learned. To support this, we provide personalized one-on-one sessions for educators and programs of all levels.
If you’re new to instructional coaching, we recommend starting with our Instructional Coaching Institute. However, all of our workshops can be beneficial depending on your needs. Feel free to contact our team for personalized guidance on selecting the workshop that best suits your team’s needs or use our Build My Program tool.
ICG provides teachers with the chance to participate in peer coaching and also supports those interested in assuming the role of instructional coach. If you’d like to partner with an ICG consultant for private work with your school or district, we can customize a schedule to align with your requirements, either in-person or virtually.
Start Your Journey with ICG
Use our online tool to get connected to professional development opportunities for you.
District STEM Specialist, Jonesboro Public Schools
Better Conversations
The workshop was Excellent. It allowed me to understand the Impact Cycle and how it can help guide my current profession as a coach. I…
Instructional Coach, Maryland
Impact Cycle
I would definitely recommend it to colleagues because having that coaching lens helps all of us be better listeners, facilitators, and educators. I learned about…
Special Education Teacher, WEA
Impact Cycle
This workshop was encouraging. I loved hearing it right before school starts in order to make sure our own school culture around coaching is tight!
Elementary Math Facilitator, Eastside Elementary
Impact Cycle
It was helpful! The first half gave me a lot of clarity on the layers of complexity when dealing with adult learners that helps me…
Curriculum Specialist, Admin
System Support: What Administrators Need to Know About Coaching
One of the most relevant workshops I have attended as admin. I learned reflective insights which will be helpful when working with and supporting staff.
Director, Lima
System Support: What Administrators Need to Know About Coaching
This workshop was informative and reviving. It brought my coaching mojo back to life. The Impact Cycle is transformational to all staff. Our presenter did…
Literacy Coach, Cherry Hill
Impact Cycle
This was the best PD I’ve taken in a long time. I learned how to effect change as a coach and really effectively impact student…
Coach, Cherry Hill
Impact Cycle
I would suggest it! It’s great to get everyone on the same page across the district. The model videos were very helpful to me as…
Joyce Kilmer and Richard Stockton Elementary Schools, District Math Coach
Unwrapping the Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching
I would highly recommend to anyone in a coaching role and even teachers. It’s a great way to coach kids as well as adults.
District Behavior Interventionist (IF), Casper, Wy NCSD
Impact Cycle
Highly recommend to instructional coaches looking for a solid framework for coaching. Excellent information. I will be able to apply everything that I have learned…
Instructional Facilitator, HWES Jonesboro, AR
Impact Cycle
I’ve learned how to invest in my teachers in ways I never understood before. Our presenter was amazing. I love that she didn’t waste any…
Assistant Principal of School Improvement, Jonesboro, AR Visual and Performing Arts
Impact Cycle
I think this was one of the best PDs I have participated in. I felt like it was informative and thorough. I would recommend this…
Technology Integration Specialist, Cheyenne, WY
Unwrapping the Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching
The workshop was a valuable use of my time as an elementary instructional leader. I would suggest all building trainers get this training, regardless of…
Elementary Assistant Principal, Olentangy
System Support: What Administrators Need to Know About Coaching
I thought this workshop was WELL worth our time and very informative. Our presenter allowed us time to reflect as well as collaborate and I…
Assistant Principal, OLSD - Wyandot Run Elementary
System Support: What Administrators Need to Know About Coaching
The information I learned at TLC has transformed my coaching practice and given me direction and goals to move forward.
Halifax Regional Center for Education
Learning Disabilities Coach
Virtual TLC was great! I loved that the breakout sessions were prerecorded. I took two professional leave days and felt that I had actually attended,…
Blount County Schools
Instructional Coach
It was immensely valuable to be in a space with 2500 other people who share your same passion and love for education.
Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union
Instructional Coach
"Working with Sonja helped us to understand how the Partnership Principles can serve us with Instructional Coaching, but also beyond as the principles serve as…
George Singfield, Director General, Western Québec School Board
This professional learning helped me reflect more intentionally on how I support teachers through meaningful conversations. One of my biggest takeaways was the importance of…
Erick Tremblay
Principal, South Hull Elementary School
This professional learning supported me not only in my role as a mentor, but also in my own teaching practice in the classroom. Sonja helped…
Roxana Tiron-Baleanu
French Immersion Teacher at South Hull Elementary and Mentor Coach Teacher
I will be better equipped to lead coaching conversations and support coaches with the tools of Better Conversations.
Coach
Canada
Sonja was a wonderful facilitator of learning. She embodied the six beliefs, and ten habits for Better Conversations.
Coach
Canada
I cannot think of a more effective professional learning than what I received today on Better Conversations. And after 40 years in education, that says…
Coach
Canada
“The most valuable takeaway from my session with Sonja is recognizing how coaching can transform not only the way you lead yourself and others, but…
Matt, Teacher and Instructional Coach at Pontiac High School
"I used to think coaching was mainly about giving advice, but now I think its real power lies in building partnerships that empower teachers to…
Lorne, Director of Middle & Senior School - Miss. Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School
"The impact of our Better Conversations learning with Sonja will extend beyond our work conversations. We are still talking about what we learned."
Denise, Mathematics Consultant
TLC reminded me about the important and complex work we do. It was a reflective and motivating experience.
Redlands Unified School District
Instructional Coach
I enrolled in the Instructional Coaching Institute because I wanted to start a coaching program at my school to better support teachers and positively impact…
Terri Clark
Elementary Principal, Oakland Christian School, Auburn Hills, MI
I tried out the coaching questions during a coaching conversation with a teacher today and it was SO powerful! It went so well, and I…
Instructional Coach, Alexandria City Public Schools
Impact Cycle Workshop
I thought this was a very informative workshop that balanced a lot of information while also not overwhelming. All of the strategies felt very useful…
Instructional coach, North Carolina (virtual)
Impact Cycle
It was informative and yes, I would recommend it to others. It was very helpful to see the process from start to finish.
Instructional Coach, Virtual
Impact Cycle
It’s my fave PD series I’ve ever been to. I learned useful ways to track engagement, what engagement actually looks like, the levels of engagement,…
Teacher support mentor, Madera
Coaching for Engagement
I was INSPIRED leaving the talk! I learned so much about myself as a communicator— not only in the work place, but how I can…
Alumni Engagement Manager, San Francisco - Sacred Heart Cathedral
Better Conversations
I left professionally fulfilled. I WOULD suggest this to a colleague. It was actually meaningful, and I foresee myself applying much of what was learned.
Instructional Coach, Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy- APS
Impact Cycle
"Jim Knight′s High Impact Instruction honors teachers as intelligent, complex, and dedicated people. While many have attempted to identify the attributes of effective instruction, Knight′s…
Stephanie Hirsh
Executive Director Learning Forward
Who better to write the definitive guide to instructional coaching than Dr. Jim Knight—the guy who coined the term instructional coaching? This guide provides a…
John Campbell
Founding Director, Growth Coaching International
There simply isn't a bigger influence than Jim Knight in the world of instructional coaching. His words, through workshops, keynotes, books, blogs, and articles, give…
Peter DeWitt
EdD, leadership coach, author, and Education Week blogger
Coaching can have such variable impacts, and this should scream for a science of coaching; a focus for coaches to look back, at, and ahead;…
John Hattie
Emeritus Laureate Professor, Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Anytime I see a book that tackles a complex matter, I pull out my three key criteria: conciseness (is it clear and specific), comprehensiveness (does…
Michael Fullan
Professor Emeritus, OISE/University of Toronto
“Provides valuable insight for mentors who are in the field working daily with novice teachers.”
J. Helen Perkins
Assistant Professor, The University of Memphis
“Teachers helping teachers is a great way to create a powerful instructional staff. Knight has included very practical and useful tools to help teachers achieve…
Dale E. Moxley
Principal, Round Lake Elementary School, Mount Dora, FL
"Seasoned author Jim Knight provides a masterful resource for teachers and other stakeholders to improve student achievement through a host of clearly defined instructional practices.…
Kathy Glass
Consultant and author of Curriculum Mapping: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Curriculum Year Overviews
"Jim Knight′s book, High-Impact Instruction, absolutely delivers on the promise of its subtitle ′A Framework for Great Teaching.′ It is breathtaking in its comprehensiveness and…
Robert J. Marzano
CEO Marzano Research Laboratory
Jim Knight's books, articles, presentations, and one-on-one conversations have strengthened my skills and understanding of coaching from my earliest days as a promoter of coaching…
Stephen Barkley
Author of Instructional Coaching with the End in Mind
“This book provides a blueprint for any school or district to continuously enhance the instructional prowess of teachers. Concepts like ‘video-enhanced professional development’ are revolutionary…
Robert J. Marzano
CEO Marzano Research Laboratory
"While many advocate for using video to improve teaching and learning -- Jim Knight combines the rationale and strategies that compel us to take action.…
Stephanie Hirsh
Executive Director Learning Forward
“Not only is Jim Knight the reigning expert in coaching, but he keeps on innovating. Focus on Teaching extends and deepens how coaching can have…
Michael Fullan
Professor Emeritus OISE/University of Toronto
I read more education books than I care to admit. Some are good, some are bad, and very few are great. Jim Knight’s book Better…
Russell J. Quaglia
President/Founder, Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations
Better Conversations stimulates the mind, spirit, and soul of those who coach, regardless of their role or position, by unpacking and reshaping the mental models…
Joellen Killion
Senior Advisor, Learning Forward
I thought I knew how to have a conversation; I’ve had millions of them. Some were good, others not so much so. But I want…
Douglas Fisher
Coauthor of Rigorous Reading and Unstoppable Learning
Instructional coaches devote their time to growing teachers. One way to support instructional coaches in their professional growth is to ensure an effective evaluation system…
Michelle Lis
Coordinator, Instructional Coaching, Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools
“This book exemplifies everything Jim Knight advocates: a clear focus, respect for educators’ significant contributions, and the value of well-designed professional learning.”
Dennis Sparks
Former Executive Director Learning Forward
As a coach… I very rarely get my bucket filled. This conference left me energized, intellectually stimulated, and filled with hope.
Parkhill South High School
Instructional Coach
This conference was exceptionally valuable as it is extremely important for me to keep learning and growing. During the conference there were many opportunities to…
District 196
Teacher and MTSS Coach
I love that I was able to attend TLC virtually, watch the keynotes in real time, and find time in my day to learn on…
Kemp Independent School District
Instructional Coach
I loved the networking opportunity as well as the many “take and go” strategies from the presenters. I walked away with an action plan in…
Instructional Coach
TLC is a great opportunity to collaborate with peers around the U.S. creating a community of practice.
Central Bucks School District
Instructional Coach
“Jim Knight outlines a clear path to success for educators to make sense out of the complex nature of external mandates, competing initiatives, and prevailing…
Ken Geisick
Superintendent Riverbank Unified School District, CA
“Jim Knight’s work has had a tremendous impact on the quality of our professional development practices that are job-embedded and meet the real needs of…
Carolyn J. Teigland
Associate Superintendent for Education Services Cecil County Public Schools, Elkton, MD
“Jim Knight helps us to understand how learning can be infectious, energizing, and humanizing as he eloquently delineates the steps involved in creating an impact…
Stephanie Hirsh
Executive Director Learning Forward
The ICG team has pulled through again with a much-needed guide, providing a thorough process from how to hire, evaluate, support, and retain instructional coaches.…
Kelly Jacobs
District Instructional Coaching Coordinator, Lansing (MI) School District
“Unmistakable Impact takes us deeper into the realm of grounded school improvement – a great contribution to the field.”
Michael Fullan
Professor and Author University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Centre for Teacher Development
"Implementation is the core to success—and this elegant guide to creating playbooks provides the tools to make coaching real, deep, and have high impact."
John Hattie
Author of Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement and Laureate Professor at Melbourne Graduate School of Education in University of Melbourne, Australia
"The use of an instructional playbook has revolutionized how our teachers think about how they teach. A playbook moves the conversation beyond simply talking about…
Ray Swann
Deputy Headmaster and Head of Crowther Center at Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia
"Creating an instructional playbook is as much about the process as it is about the product. The chance to reflect on teachers' most frequent requests,…
Jacqueline Zimmerman
Secondary Instructional Coach Facilitator at Katy ISD, Texas
“This is a book by the master coach in practice and theory; it sums up the core notions of coaching, and it provides a richness…
John Hattie
Laureate Professor, Deputy Dean of MGSE, Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute, Melbourne Graduate School of Education
"Jim Knight is one of the wise men of coaching. His well is deep; he draws from it the best tools from practitioners, the wisdom…
Michael Bungay Stanier
Author of The Coaching Habit
"Coaching done well may be the most effective intervention designed for human performance. Jim Knight’s work has helped me understand the details of how effective…
Dr. Atul Gawande
Surgeon, public health researcher, and author of The Checklist Manifesto
This workshop is very empowering and practical.
District STEM Specialist, Jonesboro Public Schools
Better Conversations
The workshop was Excellent. It allowed me to understand the Impact Cycle and how it can help guide my current profession as a coach. I would highly recommend the workshop to other colleagues who have an interest in seeing change among educators and the children they serve.
Instructional Coach, Maryland
Impact Cycle
I would definitely recommend it to colleagues because having that coaching lens helps all of us be better listeners, facilitators, and educators. I learned about having a framework and sample resources to lean on in our journey of coaching and mentoring people, regardless of the role.
Special Education Teacher, WEA
Impact Cycle
This workshop was encouraging. I loved hearing it right before school starts in order to make sure our own school culture around coaching is tight!
Elementary Math Facilitator, Eastside Elementary
Impact Cycle
It was helpful! The first half gave me a lot of clarity on the layers of complexity when dealing with adult learners that helps me understand my role. I learned about the change process & how to support adults through change.
Curriculum Specialist, Admin
System Support: What Administrators Need to Know About Coaching
One of the most relevant workshops I have attended as admin. I learned reflective insights which will be helpful when working with and supporting staff.
Director, Lima
System Support: What Administrators Need to Know About Coaching
This workshop was informative and reviving. It brought my coaching mojo back to life. The Impact Cycle is transformational to all staff. Our presenter did a wonderful job compartmentalizing the cycle and giving us ample opportunity to understand and unpack each component.
Literacy Coach, Cherry Hill
Impact Cycle
This was the best PD I’ve taken in a long time. I learned how to effect change as a coach and really effectively impact student achievement by being a coach.
Coach, Cherry Hill
Impact Cycle
I would suggest it! It’s great to get everyone on the same page across the district. The model videos were very helpful to me as a new coach.
Joyce Kilmer and Richard Stockton Elementary Schools, District Math Coach
Unwrapping the Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching
I would highly recommend to anyone in a coaching role and even teachers. It’s a great way to coach kids as well as adults.
District Behavior Interventionist (IF), Casper, Wy NCSD
Impact Cycle
Highly recommend to instructional coaches looking for a solid framework for coaching. Excellent information. I will be able to apply everything that I have learned to my job this school year.
Instructional Facilitator, HWES Jonesboro, AR
Impact Cycle
I’ve learned how to invest in my teachers in ways I never understood before. Our presenter was amazing. I love that she didn’t waste any time, valued everyone’s input, and was so knowledgeable! 5/5 Stars!!!!
Assistant Principal of School Improvement, Jonesboro, AR Visual and Performing Arts
Impact Cycle
I think this was one of the best PDs I have participated in. I felt like it was informative and thorough. I would recommend this to colleagues! Our presenter was encouraging, funny, thorough in her explanation of topics, and made the content easy to learn. I feel like this will help guide me to be more effective next school year.
Technology Integration Specialist, Cheyenne, WY
Unwrapping the Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching
The workshop was a valuable use of my time as an elementary instructional leader. I would suggest all building trainers get this training, regardless of whether they have instructional coaches in their building or not.
Elementary Assistant Principal, Olentangy
System Support: What Administrators Need to Know About Coaching
I thought this workshop was WELL worth our time and very informative. Our presenter allowed us time to reflect as well as collaborate and I am walking away with new ideas I can implement.
Assistant Principal, OLSD - Wyandot Run Elementary
System Support: What Administrators Need to Know About Coaching
The information I learned at TLC has transformed my coaching practice and given me direction and goals to move forward.
Halifax Regional Center for Education
Learning Disabilities Coach
Virtual TLC was great! I loved that the breakout sessions were prerecorded. I took two professional leave days and felt that I had actually attended, as I followed the same schedule as in-person attendees.
Blount County Schools
Instructional Coach
It was immensely valuable to be in a space with 2500 other people who share your same passion and love for education.
Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union
Instructional Coach
"Working with Sonja helped us to understand how the Partnership Principles can serve us with Instructional Coaching, but also beyond as the principles serve as a model for collaboration. Learning more about the power of video as a reflective and learning tool was especially powerful for our team. Sonja made it clear that coaching is not an add-on, but rather a key foundational piece of the work that a principal or director general for that matter is engaged in."
George Singfield, Director General, Western Québec School Board
This professional learning helped me reflect more intentionally on how I support teachers through meaningful conversations. One of my biggest takeaways was the importance of asking thoughtful, open-ended questions that allow teachers to reflect on their own practice and identify next steps in their professional growth.
Working with Sonja helped me better understand how the Partnership Principles can guide our interactions with staff. By approaching conversations with equality, respect, and curiosity, we are able to create a space where teachers feel empowered to reflect, problem-solve, and make informed decisions about their practice.
The biggest impact for me was learning how powerful coaching conversations can be when they are focused on reflection rather than direction. This shift helps teachers take greater ownership of their professional learning.
After learning about the Impact Cycle, I have begun to think more intentionally about how we support teachers in identifying clear goals, implementing strategies, and reflecting on the impact on student learning.
The most valuable takeaway from my sessions with Sonja and Jim was learning how small shifts in how we listen and ask questions can lead to deeper professional dialogue and more meaningful instructional improvement.
I used to think that supporting teachers meant providing answers or solutions. Now I think that the most powerful support often comes from asking the right questions and guiding teachers to discover solutions that work best for their classrooms.
Thank you again for the opportunity to participate in this valuable learning experience.
Erick Tremblay
Principal, South Hull Elementary School
This professional learning supported me not only in my role as a mentor, but also in my own teaching practice in the classroom.
Sonja helped me become more confident in using a checklist during classroom observations and coaching conversations. Seeing it used in real time helped me better understand its value and the clarity it can bring to discussions. I believe it helps keep conversations more focused, open, and engaged, with attention placed on what really matters for teaching and learning. This approach can make feedback more meaningful and practical, and it supports more productive professional dialogue. The biggest impact on me/ our team/ school/ board was…
After learning about the ‘Impact Cycle’ and seeing how it can work in practice, I felt encouraged to try it myself right away. I know how important it is to set clear goals and to choose strategies that really respond to students’ needs. Just as important is taking the time to come back and reflect on what we tried, to see if those strategies are actually helping students move forward.
The most valuable takeaway from my session with Sonja was the idea that coaching works best when it feels like a real partnership in the learning process. Both people are on equal footing, in a space built on trust, where they can learn and reflect together. No matter the role, everyone has something to learn from each situation and at any moment. When there are clear goals and strong strategies guiding the work, everyone involved benefits, from the teachers to the students.
I used to think coaching was mostly about sharing ideas, offering suggestions or advice when needed, having meaningful discussions, and building a relationship based on trust where equality and choice are present. Now I see it as a broader process where other important elements can also be included, such as asking the right questions based on the situations teachers bring forward and engaging in a dialogical process. In this way, teachers are supported to reflect and discover solutions that make sense for their own classrooms.
Roxana Tiron-Baleanu
French Immersion Teacher at South Hull Elementary and Mentor Coach Teacher
I will be better equipped to lead coaching conversations and support coaches with the tools of Better Conversations.
Coach
Canada
Sonja was a wonderful facilitator of learning. She embodied the six beliefs, and ten habits for Better Conversations.
Coach
Canada
I cannot think of a more effective professional learning than what I received today on Better Conversations. And after 40 years in education, that says a lot. Not only was the content and the facilitator wonderful, but the collaboration with my colleagues was incredibly beneficial.
Coach
Canada
“The most valuable takeaway from my session with Sonja is recognizing how coaching can transform not only the way you lead yourself and others, but also how it can strengthen the culture within a school. When used effectively, coaching helps build strong, team-focused partnerships, all with the ultimate goal of supporting student well-being and academic growth.”
Matt, Teacher and Instructional Coach at Pontiac High School
"I used to think coaching was mainly about giving advice, but now I think its real power lies in building partnerships that empower teachers to reflect, experiment, and grow. The opportunity to work with Sonja helped our team develop a shared understanding of instructional coaching and how collaborative dialogue can strengthen teaching practice and build professional trust. Through our time together we were encouraged to think more intentionally about how coaching can support teacher growth while keeping student learning at the center of every conversation."
Lorne, Director of Middle & Senior School - Miss. Edgar's and Miss Cramp's School
"The impact of our Better Conversations learning with Sonja will extend beyond our work conversations. We are still talking about what we learned."
Denise, Mathematics Consultant
TLC reminded me about the important and complex work we do. It was a reflective and motivating experience.
Redlands Unified School District
Instructional Coach
I enrolled in the Instructional Coaching Institute because I wanted to start a coaching program at my school to better support teachers and positively impact student learning. This course not only taught me how to effectively design and implement a coaching program, but it also provided practical tools I can use daily in my role as principal. I’m excited about the positive impact this program will have on our school community. It has made me a stronger, more effective leader, and I highly recommend it to any professional looking to grow in instructional leadership and coaching.
Terri Clark
Elementary Principal, Oakland Christian School, Auburn Hills, MI
I tried out the coaching questions during a coaching conversation with a teacher today and it was SO powerful! It went so well, and I really suspended judgment. The teacher was able to come up with a goal and strategies to address it. At the end, she said "Thank you, I feel so much better about teaching writing now!" Thank you for including me in the session yesterday. I'm really looking forward to the next one!
Instructional Coach, Alexandria City Public Schools
Impact Cycle Workshop
I thought this was a very informative workshop that balanced a lot of information while also not overwhelming. All of the strategies felt very useful and like some thing that I can immediately implement with my teachers next week. I really appreciated all of the breakout time that we had with other participants to reflect and share our own strategies.
Instructional coach, North Carolina (virtual)
Impact Cycle
It was informative and yes, I would recommend it to others. It was very helpful to see the process from start to finish.
Instructional Coach, Virtual
Impact Cycle
It’s my fave PD series I’ve ever been to. I learned useful ways to track engagement, what engagement actually looks like, the levels of engagement, and strategies to increase engagement.
Teacher support mentor, Madera
Coaching for Engagement
I was INSPIRED leaving the talk! I learned so much about myself as a communicator— not only in the work place, but how I can use it to benefit my life outside as well. I loved how there was a chance for reflections because it was in those moments where I realized how I can improve upon communicating and being an effective listener. I feel so enriched knowing the tools I can use to better myself as a communicator. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I think everyone, in all walks of life can benefit from this vital learning experience!
Alumni Engagement Manager, San Francisco - Sacred Heart Cathedral
Better Conversations
I left professionally fulfilled. I WOULD suggest this to a colleague. It was actually meaningful, and I foresee myself applying much of what was learned.
Instructional Coach, Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy- APS
Impact Cycle
"Jim Knight′s High Impact Instruction honors teachers as intelligent, complex, and dedicated people. While many have attempted to identify the attributes of effective instruction, Knight′s work singularly acknowledges the basic human need to be our best selves. A wonderful addition to the literature!"
Stephanie Hirsh
Executive Director Learning Forward
Who better to write the definitive guide to instructional coaching than Dr. Jim Knight—the guy who coined the term instructional coaching? This guide provides a comprehensive exploration of instructional coaching and what helps it deliver great results for students. I particularly liked the section on system support. Great work by individual coaches and teachers will have so much more impact when the system is aligned and supportive. Administrators and coaches will frequently turn to Knight's practical advice as they take steps down the implementation pathway.
John Campbell
Founding Director, Growth Coaching International
There simply isn't a bigger influence than Jim Knight in the world of instructional coaching. His words, through workshops, keynotes, books, blogs, and articles, give us a greater understanding of how to coach and learn from those we coach. I always look forward to his next piece of research, and this book is a compilation of his greatest hits from the last couple of decades, and a guide to doing that work to a deeper degree. I am fortunate to call Jim a mentor and a friend, and I see this deeply impactful book as a go-to resource for a very long time.
Peter DeWitt
EdD, leadership coach, author, and Education Week blogger
Coaching can have such variable impacts, and this should scream for a science of coaching; a focus for coaches to look back, at, and ahead; the power of listening and engaging in dialogue; and an openness to learn. I have seen Jim in action as a coach, and in this book, the king of coaching has revealed his soul, secrets, and success.
John Hattie
Emeritus Laureate Professor, Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Anytime I see a book that tackles a complex matter, I pull out my three key criteria: conciseness (is it clear and specific), comprehensiveness (does it cover the waterfront), and mutual exclusiveness (does it avoid confusing overlap). And the winner is The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching! And, indeed, it is definitive. Beautifully written, elegantly simple, fabulously displayed. Coaching made powerful. If you are a coach (which should be just about all of us in education), read this book to find out more deeply who you are, what you do, and where you work. So readable, and inspiring!
Michael Fullan
Professor Emeritus, OISE/University of Toronto
“Provides valuable insight for mentors who are in the field working daily with novice teachers.”
J. Helen Perkins
Assistant Professor, The University of Memphis
“Teachers helping teachers is a great way to create a powerful instructional staff. Knight has included very practical and useful tools to help teachers achieve excellence."
Dale E. Moxley
Principal, Round Lake Elementary School, Mount Dora, FL
"Seasoned author Jim Knight provides a masterful resource for teachers and other stakeholders to improve student achievement through a host of clearly defined instructional practices. The tools, resources, and examples he provides enable educators to easily implement his framework which comprise the key ingredients for effective instruction. Furthermore, his writing style makes it an engaging read."
Kathy Glass
Consultant and author of Curriculum Mapping: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Curriculum Year Overviews
"Jim Knight′s book, High-Impact Instruction, absolutely delivers on the promise of its subtitle ′A Framework for Great Teaching.′ It is breathtaking in its comprehensiveness and heartening in its practicality and detail. This is a must-read for teachers, coaches, administrators, and anyone interested in furthering what is known about effective teaching."
Robert J. Marzano
CEO Marzano Research Laboratory
Jim Knight's books, articles, presentations, and one-on-one conversations have strengthened my skills and understanding of coaching from my earliest days as a promoter of coaching in schools. For readers with substantial experience in coaching, The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching will provide reinforcement, reminders, and continued opportunities for growth. Those who are newer to the coaching field will find direction for their next steps. "All educators deserve coaching." Jim's work supports all of us who want to make that happen.
Stephen Barkley
Author of Instructional Coaching with the End in Mind
“This book provides a blueprint for any school or district to continuously enhance the instructional prowess of teachers. Concepts like ‘video-enhanced professional development’ are revolutionary in their intent, yet consummately simple, clear, and practical.”
Robert J. Marzano
CEO Marzano Research Laboratory
"While many advocate for using video to improve teaching and learning -- Jim Knight combines the rationale and strategies that compel us to take action. Aligned to the Standards for Professional Learning, Focus on Teaching: Using Video for High-Impact Instruction demonstrates how to have unmistakable impact on educator practice and student achievement! Everyone needs to read this ground-breaking book and then go to work putting the powerful ideas into practice. Another winner!"
Stephanie Hirsh
Executive Director Learning Forward
“Not only is Jim Knight the reigning expert in coaching, but he keeps on innovating. Focus on Teaching extends and deepens how coaching can have a powerful impact at low cost through the purposeful use of video. It's all there--ideas, tools, technicalities, frameworks, application. You can even coach yourself!”
Michael Fullan
Professor Emeritus OISE/University of Toronto
I read more education books than I care to admit. Some are good, some are bad, and very few are great. Jim Knight’s book Better Conversations is BRILLIANT! Insightful, innovative, and practical are the three words that kept coming to me when I was reading and learning from his book. Jim treats the subject of communication as an art and gives all of us, regardless of position or years of experience, practical ways to use our voice to improve the teaching and learning environment, as well as ourselves!
Russell J. Quaglia
President/Founder, Quaglia Institute for Student Aspirations
Better Conversations stimulates the mind, spirit, and soul of those who coach, regardless of their role or position, by unpacking and reshaping the mental models that drive how they think, speak, and act. . . I found myself frequently thinking about how helpful this book will be to nearly every human who interacts with others whether in school or beyond.
Joellen Killion
Senior Advisor, Learning Forward
I thought I knew how to have a conversation; I’ve had millions of them. Some were good, others not so much so. But I want to have GREAT conversations, and Jim Knight has taught me how. The proof is in: better conversations are possible and the results are worth the investment.
Douglas Fisher
Coauthor of Rigorous Reading and Unstoppable Learning
Instructional coaches devote their time to growing teachers. One way to support instructional coaches in their professional growth is to ensure an effective evaluation system is in place for them. This book gives leaders several things to consider as they define the coach’s role, hire candidates, and put an evaluation process in place.
Michelle Lis
Coordinator, Instructional Coaching, Fairfax County (Va.) Public Schools
“This book exemplifies everything Jim Knight advocates: a clear focus, respect for educators’ significant contributions, and the value of well-designed professional learning.”
Dennis Sparks
Former Executive Director Learning Forward
As a coach… I very rarely get my bucket filled. This conference left me energized, intellectually stimulated, and filled with hope.
Parkhill South High School
Instructional Coach
This conference was exceptionally valuable as it is extremely important for me to keep learning and growing. During the conference there were many opportunities to learn from experts, collaborate, and share.
District 196
Teacher and MTSS Coach
I love that I was able to attend TLC virtually, watch the keynotes in real time, and find time in my day to learn on demand.
Kemp Independent School District
Instructional Coach
I loved the networking opportunity as well as the many “take and go” strategies from the presenters. I walked away with an action plan in mind and people I connected with to support the growth and change.
Instructional Coach
TLC is a great opportunity to collaborate with peers around the U.S. creating a community of practice.
Central Bucks School District
Instructional Coach
“Jim Knight outlines a clear path to success for educators to make sense out of the complex nature of external mandates, competing initiatives, and prevailing traditional models found within many schools and districts around the nation.”
Ken Geisick
Superintendent Riverbank Unified School District, CA
“Jim Knight’s work has had a tremendous impact on the quality of our professional development practices that are job-embedded and meet the real needs of our teachers. He is a consummate relationship builder who models how to establish the types of relationships necessary for second-order change to occur.”
Carolyn J. Teigland
Associate Superintendent for Education Services Cecil County Public Schools, Elkton, MD
“Jim Knight helps us to understand how learning can be infectious, energizing, and humanizing as he eloquently delineates the steps involved in creating an impact school. I suggest buying this book for all principals who want to strengthen their schools. I believe that Unmistakable Impact will be a resource they return to time and again.”
Stephanie Hirsh
Executive Director Learning Forward
The ICG team has pulled through again with a much-needed guide, providing a thorough process from how to hire, evaluate, support, and retain instructional coaches. This book will empower school leaders to be partners with instructional coaches by providing meaningful evaluation tools and effective coaching programs. Readers will walk away with ideas on how to help coaches grow to best serve students and teachers in their schools.
Kelly Jacobs
District Instructional Coaching Coordinator, Lansing (MI) School District
“Unmistakable Impact takes us deeper into the realm of grounded school improvement – a great contribution to the field.”
Michael Fullan
Professor and Author University of Toronto, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Centre for Teacher Development
"Implementation is the core to success—and this elegant guide to creating playbooks provides the tools to make coaching real, deep, and have high impact."
John Hattie
Author of Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement and Laureate Professor at Melbourne Graduate School of Education in University of Melbourne, Australia
"The use of an instructional playbook has revolutionized how our teachers think about how they teach. A playbook moves the conversation beyond simply talking about what works to doing what works."
Ray Swann
Deputy Headmaster and Head of Crowther Center at Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia
"Creating an instructional playbook is as much about the process as it is about the product. The chance to reflect on teachers' most frequent requests, to sift through the tools in a team's collective toolbox, to research and refine thinking collaboratively, to edit for clarity in language and purpose, and to learn from peers is a priceless learning opportunity for coaches and other stakeholders."
Jacqueline Zimmerman
Secondary Instructional Coach Facilitator at Katy ISD, Texas
“This is a book by the master coach in practice and theory; it sums up the core notions of coaching, and it provides a richness for action and thought for all who want to bring the power of coaching into teaching. I am convinced.”
John Hattie
Laureate Professor, Deputy Dean of MGSE, Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute, Melbourne Graduate School of Education
"Jim Knight is one of the wise men of coaching. His well is deep; he draws from it the best tools from practitioners, the wisdom of experience, and research-based insights. And he never loses sight of the bigger picture: the point of all this is to have more impact in this life we're lucky enough to live."
Michael Bungay Stanier
Author of The Coaching Habit
"Coaching done well may be the most effective intervention designed for human performance. Jim Knight’s work has helped me understand the details of how effective coaching can and should be done."
Dr. Atul Gawande
Surgeon, public health researcher, and author of The Checklist Manifesto
When teaching improves, students succeed—that’s a fact. By bringing together the science of learning, the science of teaching, and the emerging science of coaching we can ensure teaching practices align with what we know about how students learn.
