Excellent Teaching

Teachers are the most important in-school factor contributing to student achievement. We believe that great instruction results from innovation and collaboration. When something works, we celebrate it and share it broadly.

To enable our teachers and leaders to benefit from the collective knowledge and learning occurring across KIPP, the KIPP Foundation invests in creating frameworks and tools that provide a common language and facilitate the exchange of effective practice. In 2011, we introduced the KIPP Framework for Excellent Teaching.

KIPP Framework for Excellent Teaching

Click on the image to download a PDF of the KIPP Framework for Excellent Teaching.

Why a KIPP Framework?

Caleb Dolan, Executive Director of KIPP Massachusetts and one of the many architects of the KIPP Framework for Excellent Teaching, provides the rationale for why we needed to develop a unique KIPP framework.

About the KIPP Framework for Excellent Teaching

This model contains four main elements; all centered on our goal of student growth and achievement and the beliefs and character that all our teachers share.

AT THE CENTER OF OUR WORK IS:

Student Growth and Achievement
Excellent teaching means students learn, grow, and achieve transformative life outcomes.

THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF EXCELLENT TEACHING ARE LINKED THROUGH OUR:

Beliefs and Character
An excellent KIPP teacher is committed to KIPP’s mission. She constantly pursues becoming a better person, just as she supports students in this pursuit. She understands that her beliefs and character affect who she is, her impact on and relationships with others, her classroom environment, how she teaches, and what she knows. Learn more about character at KIPP.

THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF EXCELLENT TEACHING ARE:

Self and Others Excellent teaching requires understanding of oneself, one’s connection to others, and a growth mindset that allows the teacher to take ownership for the success of all KIPPsters.
Classroom Culture In an excellent classroom culture, the teacher focuses on countless tangible and intangible details in the space to create an environment where students are joyfully engaged, meaningfully on-task, and feel ownership for their individual and collective successes in college and in life.
The Teaching Cycle Excellent teaching means planning and executing rigorous, engaging lessons that fit into a logical scope and sequence, as well as using student data to assess mastery of objectives and movement toward big goals for student achievement and growth. Excellent teaching requires a 1/12 mindset, recognizing that even the tiniest details can dramatically impact student mastery.
Knowledge Teaching is an art and science. As the artists and scientists, we are responsible for building our understanding of child development, pedagogy, and content. We are responsible for knowing what we are teaching, how it fits in a PreK-16 continuum, and who we are teaching it to.

Download the KIPP Framework for Excellent Teaching.

Learn more about the KIPP Leadership Competency Model >

KIPP is committed to equal treatment for all individuals. KIPP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.