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In-class coaching helps teachers to become master Direct Instruction (DI) teachers. It is intended to improve teachers’ mastery of DI techniques at the same time that it builds teachers’ confidence in their abilities to effect positive changes in student performance. Coaching involves observing teachers instructing groups, providing specific feedback on what was observed, demonstrating parts of lessons, and modeling entire lessons.
NIFDI is now making our coaching expertise available to schools that are not implementing the full NIFDI Model. The focus is on student performance and student behavior. Coaching visits are designed to provide useful feedback to teachers and the building coordinator about what’s working well for students and what needs improvement. NIFDI coaches reinforce what’s working well and ask staff to change only those teaching behaviors that make a difference with children. The orientation of the coaching visits is that learning problems should be solved jointly between the coach and the school.
If you are interested in finding out about how a NIFDI coach can help improve your DI outcomes, send an email to info@nifdi.org! or read a description here.
NIFDI has a long history of providing the Gold Standard for training in Direct Instruction programs. Our trainers have trained tens of thousands of educators throughout the world to successfully implement DI. For the first time, we are offering in-person open-enrollment training in the United Kingdom!
Plan on attending the UK Direct Instruction Teaching Academy July 6 & 7, 2023, at Heath Lane Academy, Earl Shilton, Leicester. We will be offering training in Corrective Mathematics and Corrective Reading, Decoding. Participants can choose to attend one of these two-day trainings.
Space is limited to 25 attendees in each session, so sign up early! For complete details, click here.
An important feature of successful Direct Instruction implementations is to celebrate success—success of students, teachers and entire schools. This year, at the National Direct Instruction conference, we will be recognizing individuals and schools that have made a significant difference in the educational performance of children through the following awards:
Please take the opportunity to honor a member of the DI “family.” The nomination process is not cumbersome, and it means so much to the individuals and our profession. Please identify and nominate a colleague and/or school that has made a difference. Nomination applications are short (1-2 pages) and are available on our website. Nominations are due in our office by June 3rd, so download the application packet today!
In February, UK-based Teacher Talk Radio hosted the podcast Direct Instruction Beyond Rosenshine. The 90-minute show featured Terri Leighton, Principal at Dixons-Manningham Primary in the United Kingdom, NIFDI President Kurt Engelmann, NIFDI Outreach Director Bryan Wickman, and Suzy Wybrow, NIFDI UK Outreach Specialist. Engelmann and Wickman gave an overview and brief history of DI, and Terri and Suzy talked about their experience with the programs.
Terri said how her school has nearly all students reading at or above grade level and has gone from 5 classes of Corrective Reading down to 1 due to the strong foundation students receive in their earlier years. Click here to listen to the podcast.
A second podcast focusing on DI was featured in an episode of Progressively Incorrect. Marcy Stein is a veteran DI researcher, author, and teacher educator. She is a retired Professor Emeritus from the University of Washington, Tacoma. The podcast, titled Engelmann’s Direct Instruction and Project Follow Through, is an interesting 60-minute exploration of the success of the DI Model in Project Follow Through and the failure of the US Department of Education to disseminate the results of the largest education experiment in history. The information is particularly relevant in light of the current interest in the science of reading. Click here to listen to the podcast.