Facilitator Framing: "The 16 elements are not an unmanageable checklist. They form an interconnected architecture across three operational pillars. A breakdown in any pillar causes instructional collapse."
Facilitator Protocol: 4 Steps to Unpack the 16 Elements
Step 1 Cluster Organization (2 min): Group the 16 elements on Slide 4: Content (1–3: what is taught), Design (4–10: lesson structure & 'I Do/We Do'), and Delivery (11–16: active responses, pacing, feedback).
Step 2 Pillar Interdependence Drill (1 min): Ask: "What happens if a lesson has strong Content/Design, but zero Delivery routines?" (Result: passive disengagement).
Step 3 Silent Coding Sweep (2 min): Leaders annotate Handout Part 2: mark ★ for schoolwide strengths and ⚠️ for urgent growth areas.
Step 4 Walkthrough Translation: Ask: "In an unannounced 5-minute walkthrough, which elements are immediately observable at a glance?"
Explicit Instruction Leadership PD • Session 1 Facilitator Guide Page 1 of 2
Facilitation Arc Continued & Implementation
Minutes 25 – 45
4b. Schoolwide Strengths & Growth Areas (25 – 30 min) Handout Part 3
Group Activity: Table groups review the 16 Elements on their Handout. Coaches and principals independently identify: (a) 2 elements that are current schoolwide strengths, and (b) 2 elements in urgent need of coaching support. Synthesize patterns (e.g., frequently missing: brisk pacing, checking for understanding prior to seatwork).
5. Equity Lens: MLLs & High Achievers (30 – 38 min) Slide 5
Facilitator Challenge Question: "Some educators argue that explicit instruction is only for interventions and that advanced learners are held back. How do we dismantle this misconception?"
Key Takeaways to Reinforce: Multilingual learners thrive because clear modeling and frequent oral response routines eliminate linguistic guesswork. Advanced students accelerate because explicit teaching equips them with expert thinking routines and clears cognitive hurdles, unlocking high-level inquiry sooner.
6. Action Item Launch: 1-Week Leadership Audit (38 – 45 min) Slide 6 & Audit Tool
Implementation Protocol: Review the 1-Week Self-Audit Tool. Each leader commits to conducting 3–5 brief walkthroughs daily (5–10 minutes) across classrooms, tracking presence of the 16 elements. Leaders choose one high-leverage habit (e.g., active choral/partner response routines or systematic guided practice) to intentionally observe, celebrate, and coach.
Teacher Pushback: "This feels scripted / kills creativity"
Leader Response: "Explicit instruction provides the clear instructional structure so creativity has a solid foundation. Just like musicians master scales before improvising, students need explicit mastery to engage in creative problem-solving."
Teacher Pushback: "I prefer students construct their own meaning"
Leader Response: "Discovery works when students already possess robust background knowledge. When content is novel, unguided inquiry leads to misconceptions and wider achievement gaps. Explicit models guarantee equitable access."
Facilitator Post-Session Follow-Up:
Explicit Instruction Leadership PD • Session 1 Facilitator Guide Page 2 of 2
Classroom execution & checking
Explicit Instruction Leadership PD • Participant Handout Page 1 of 2
Application & Leadership Action Plan
Part 3 & 4
Looking across the 16 elements, identify where your building currently shines and where immediate coaching leverage is needed.
2–3 Current Schoolwide Strengths (Element # & Evidence):
2–3 Immediate Growth Areas (Element # & Target Need):
How does explicit instruction serve both Multilingual Learners and High Achievers rather than just struggling students?
Impact on Multilingual Learners (MLLs):
Impact on High Achievers / Complex Problem Solving:
Identify ONE specific explicit instruction habit to intentionally observe and coach during walkthroughs next week:
Selected Element:
Concrete Observable Leader Look-For:
Accountability Partner / Coaching Check-in Date:
Explicit Instruction Leadership PD • Participant Handout Page 2 of 2
| 11. Require frequent active student responses | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| 12. Monitor student performance closely | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| 13. Provide immediate corrective/affirmative feedback | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| 14. Deliver instruction at a brisk, energetic pace | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| 15. Help students organize & synthesize knowledge | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| 16. Provide distributed & cumulative practice | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
Explicit Instruction Leadership PD • 1-Week Audit Matrix Page 1 of 2
Audit Reflection & Habit Formation
Translating 5-day audit observations into one high-leverage instructional routine.
Action Phase
Most Consistent Element:
Most Inconsistent / Missing:
Primary Root Cause:
Target Element Selected to Build:
1. The Cue (When in the lesson does this trigger?):
2. The Micro-Routine (Exact teacher language/action):
3. Measurable Student Outcome (How will we verify 100% engagement?):
Q1: "What specific trigger did you use to initiate this explicit routine during your direct instruction?"
Q2: "What percentage of students responded actively compared to typical hand-raising?"
Q3: "When students gave an incorrect response, how immediately was corrective modeling delivered?"
Q4: "What adjustment will ensure this habit becomes an automatic classroom reflex?"
Auditor Signature & Commitment:
Peer / Coach Accountability Partner:
Explicit Instruction Leadership PD • Habit Action Plan Page 2 of 2
