Welcome to The Instructional Framework - Helping teachers bring best practices into the classroom

Helping teachers bring best practices into the classroom

The Instructional Framework (IF, we pronounce it EYE-eff) identifies eight best practices for effective teaching and offers concrete, culturally responsive and consistent guidance for teachers on how to integrate those best practices to design research- and standards-based lesson plans. The IF also provides videos and grade-specific materials teachers can integrate into their instructional practices.

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What is The Instructional Framework?

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View Key IF Resources:

Instructional Framework Rubric

K-8 Thematic Units and Grade-level Documents

Culturally Responsive Texts

Benefits

For teachers, by teachers

From the start, the IF was informed by gaps in the classroom, and created, piloted and implemented by teachers, not a publishing company.

Standards guidance

The IF provides guidance for meeting Common Core Standards in an organized and user-friendly approach.

Applying best practices

The IF helps educators understand how to carry out critical teaching practices like reflection and backward planning.

Student engagement

Teachers say the IF provides a consistent routine for students that increases their interest in school and helps with classroom management.

Real-world learning

With an emphasis on real-world connections, the IF gives students ownership of their learning.

Simplified planning

Teachers say the structure of the IF simplifies their planning time, in part because it gives them ideas about how to teach the Common Core Standards.

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Overview

Learn what sets the IF apart and how it can help you in your classroom.

How it Works

Take a peek at the resources included in the IF, from a rubric guide to grade-level planning and assessment documents.

Get Started

Ready to roll? Here’s how to begin implementing the IF in your classroom.

Testimonials

What are other teachers and school leaders saying about the IF? Here’s what we’ve heard:

“In my years using The Instructional Framework I grew a lot as a teacher. I grew in my knowledge of standards. If you know what the standard entails, it’s going to be a lot easier to plan for the classroom.”

“The Instructional Framework’s emphasis on real-world learning makes teaching more enjoyable for the teachers as well. At times, teaching can become mundane. But when teachers are asked to think about their lesson in terms of its relevance to students’ lives, it can reignite their love of teaching.”

“You could take aspects of The Instructional Framework and implement them within pretty much any curriculum. It helps create routines. And studies prove that when students follow a routine throughout the day, learning is increased, and engagement is increased because they understand what’s expected of them. Engagement increases retention and retention better prepares a student for life outside of school.”

“The Instructional Framework helped with classroom management because the kids were engaged. Parents were happier because they saw that their kids were learning.”

“The framework really turns teachers into leaders and makes them experts on what they do.”

“The purpose of The Instructional Framework is to make things easier for teachers. You’re constantly getting better as a teacher and your students only benefit from that.”

“There are tremendous elements of The Instructional Framework. The Instructional Framework improved our student outcomes through flexible planning and preparation, weaving different elements together rather than a rigid scope and sequence of a curriculum. The framework established student-centric differentiation in the classroom.”