What You Measure is What Matters: Why We Care So Much About Instructional Rubrics
The most critical in-school factor in a student’s learning outcomes is the quality of the teacher in the classroom. Teachers deserve feedback, coaching, and growth opportunities that support them to be the best they can for their students. To truly foster professional growth and ensure high-quality instruction for all students, we need a way to measure and define what “good” teaching looks like. This is where a high-quality teacher observation rubric becomes an indispensable tool. A great rubric is more than just a checklist; it’s a shared language and a roadmap for excellence. The fundamental principle at play is simple: what we measure is what matters. The selection of the tool or tools we use to guide classroom observation and teacher development is a signal of what we value most in teaching and learning.
That’s why we have shared the Hendy Instructional Excellence Rubric free-of-charge with our community. The Hendy Rubric articulates the specific, observable teacher behaviors that drive student outcomes. This clarity provides teachers with a clear understanding of expectations. They know exactly what they’re being coached on and how their performance will be evaluated. The rubric also helps school leaders and coaches calibrate on a shared definition of excellence. When everyone is using the same criteria and language, the feedback a teacher receives becomes more consistent and reliable.
The Hendy Instructional Excellence Rubric moves beyond simply articulating what a teacher does and instead focuses also on what students are learning and doing. A teacher’s input is only as effective as the resulting student output. By ensuring the indicators include both teacher actions and student actions, the rubric encourages a shift in mindset. It prompts teachers to ask, “Is what I’m doing leading to meaningful learning for my students?” This focus on student outcomes is the ultimate measure of success and the core purpose of all instructional support.
The Hendy Instructional Excellence Rubric can help you to measure what truly matters in teaching in service of student outcomes. Providing targeted, focused coaching and support allows leaders to empower teachers to be their best and ensure that all students receive the high-quality education they deserve.
Want to know how the Hendy Instructional Excellence Rubric can help you measure what matters? Reach out to Jess at jessicawilson@hendyavenue.com.