Creating an Instructional Playbook: The Essential Pre-Painting Process

This past weekend, I set out to paint our office. Now, I’ve got my trusty overalls, splattered with layers of past projects, and I walked into that office ready to get to work. But I quickly realized that I wasn’t as ready as I thought. Painting a room isn’t just about slapping some paint on the walls. It’s about preparation—deciding on a vision, gathering supplies, clearing the space, and having a clear plan for how the work will unfold. Without that, it’s just a mess waiting to happen.

Creating an instructional playbook for your school is exactly the same. It might sound like a straightforward task—pulling together some tried-and-true teaching strategies, putting them in a binder, and expecting teachers to implement them. But, just like painting, the success of an instructional playbook lies in the preparation, the clarity, and the shared vision behind it.

The Risks of Rushing In

Without the proper groundwork, an instructional playbook can quickly fall into one of three traps:

1. Collecting Dust: A playbook that’s created in isolation or without proper rollout often ends up unused. It might get some attention at first, but without ongoing engagement, it’s likely to be forgotten, left to collect dust on a shelf.

2. Limited Effectiveness: Even if a playbook is used, it won’t be effective if the strategies within aren’t well-matched to the needs of the teachers and students. If the strategies don’t resonate or aren’t practical, teachers won’t see results, and they’ll be less likely to continue using them.

3. Resistance: When instructional strategies are unclear or feel imposed, you’re likely to meet resistance. Teachers might push back if they don’t understand the purpose or if they feel the strategies aren’t relevant to their classrooms.

Building the Foundation: Clarity is Key

The key to avoiding these pitfalls is clarity. Just like in my painting project, where I needed a clear vision before I could start, you need a clear instructional focus before you start building a playbook.

Step 1: Establish an Instructional Focus

Does your campus have a clear instructional focus? This is the foundation of your playbook. Without it, you’re just throwing strategies at the wall to see what sticks. An instructional focus helps you narrow down which strategies will be most impactful based on your school’s specific goals and student needs.

This focus should be developed collaboratively, with input from teachers and instructional leaders. It’s not about having all the best practices in one place—it’s about having the right practices that align with your goals.

Step 2: Clarify Instructional Strategies

Once you have your instructional focus, the next step is to get clear on the specific strategies you’ll include in your playbook. This isn’t the time to assume everyone’s on the same page. Even common strategies need to be clearly defined, with a shared understanding of what they look like in practice.

Involve your teachers in this process. Use PLC meetings to discuss and refine these strategies. Create anchor charts, discuss what effective implementation looks like, and ensure that there’s a common language around these strategies.

Step 3: Ensure Ongoing Practice and Reflection

Just like painting, where the work isn’t done once the first coat is on the walls, creating an instructional playbook isn’t a one-and-done task. Teachers need time to practice these strategies, reflect on their effectiveness, and make adjustments. PLCs provide a great space for this ongoing work, ensuring that the playbook remains a living, breathing document that evolves with your school’s needs.

What’s Your Starting Point?

In your district or campus, where do you currently stand with your instructional playbook? Is it non-existent (zero)? Collecting dust (one)? Facing resistance (two)? Or are the strategies within it not being effectively implemented (three)?

Understanding your starting point is crucial. And if you’re feeling hesitant—if you’re worried about creating something that won’t be used or that might face resistance—you’re not alone. These are common fears, but they’re also signals that you need to spend more time on the preparation process.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Click here to get links to resources that are going to help you avoid these common pitfalls. You’ll find a link to Jim Knight’s book on instructional playbooks, which lays out exactly what needs to be included—a table of contents, one-pagers, and checklists. You’ll also find a link to a model instructional playbook that you can customize for your own needs.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to create a playbook. The goal is to create a tool that’s used, effective, and embraced by your teachers. And that starts with clarity—clarity around your instructional focus, clarity in your strategies, and clarity in how you roll it out.

So, before you pop on your overalls and start painting, make sure you’ve laid the groundwork. Your instructional playbook—and your school—will be better for it.