Transforming Teaching: An Observation Coaching Protocol

Every educator knows that a rubric alone doesn’t change a classroom—it’s the conversation around that rubric that sparks growth. If you’ve downloaded the Hendy Instructional Excellence Rubric, then you know about the accompanying observation coaching protocol. This protocol provides a precise, 30-40 minute roadmap for leaders to effectively coach and support teachers. 

We are excited to spotlight this protocol adapted from Paul Bambrick-Santoyo and Uncommon Schools. Uncommon maintains their position as pace setters in people development; check out Leverage Leadership 2.0, in addition to the Uncommon Schools’ blog for more incredible resources, in addition to- we, and the entire field, are indebted to their work.

Here is a breakdown of how this tool transforms a standard debrief into a high-impact coaching session.

The 6-Step Coaching Roadmap

The protocol is divided into six distinct phases designed to move from celebration to practice.

1. Precise Praise (1-2 Minutes)

Start by grounding the conversation in success. Leaders are encouraged to share concrete statements of praise that recognize strengths or the implementation of previous feedback.

• Pro Tip: Use specific language from the Hendy Instructional Excellence Rubric to ensure the praise is professional and objective.

2. The Discussion (10-15 Minutes)

This is the “meat” of the meeting, divided into three phases:

• Identify the Goal: Collaboratively define what excellence looks like for a specific rubric indicator.
• Explore the Gap: Present evidence from the observation to identify the difference between the current practice and the goal.
• Close the Gap: Use modeling, exemplar videos, or reflective questioning to determine how to bridge that gap.

3. The “Bite-Sized” Action Step (2 Minutes)

The leader names one specific, observable, and “bite-sized” action step. For example, instead of “improve monitoring,” a step might be: “Pre-plan a circulation route for the next lesson’s independent practice”.

• Key Requirement: Have the teacher restate the action step and write it down to ensure total alignment.

4. Plan Ahead (3-5 Minutes)

Don’t leave the implementation to chance. Collaboratively design or revise upcoming lesson plans to integrate the new action step. This involves reviewing materials and identifying exactly where the new strategy fits best.

5. Practice! (10-15 Minutes)

This is often the most overlooked step in coaching. The teacher practices the action step through role-play.

• Immediate Feedback: The leader pauses the practice at any point to provide feedback and the teacher repeats the exercise until it is successful.
• Increased Complexity: Once the basics are mastered, the leader adds “real-world” challenges, like a disruptive student or a more difficult question.

6. Follow-up (1-3 Minutes)

End by confirming the timeline. Set a specific date for the next observation or a deadline for reviewing a modified lesson plan.

Why It Works

By focusing on one measurable action and providing a safe space to practice before the next class, this protocol moves beyond “giving advice” and into true skill-building. Want your own copy of the Observation Coaching Protocol and Planning Guide? Download the Hendy Instructional Excellence Rubric, or reach out to Jess!