GETTING STARTED.
Your WalkThrus membership gives you everything you need to start building great teaching, step by step. The schools that make the biggest impact don’t overcomplicate things. They get the materials in teachers’ hands, put them to work in training, and build habits that stick.
These seven steps are what we see in schools that hit the ground running. They focus on clarity, consistency, and practical action. No wasted time — just smart, structured implementation that gets teachers using WalkThrus with purpose, straight away.
Try them. Then follow our Prepare It, Design It, Make It Happen framework to build a programme that lasts.
BUILD UNDERSTANDING.
Run a staff session on how learning happens. Use The Learning Model to explore why students struggle. Guide teachers through the Why? materials to identify key learning challenges in their classrooms.
Build a clear picture of what effective teaching looks like in your school. If a framework isn’t yet embedded, use Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction as a starting point. Keep the focus on solving learning problems, linking ideas directly to classroom practice.
BUILD CONFIDENCE.
Lay the foundations. A WalkThru isn’t a rigid set of rules — it’s a framework for building shared understanding of effective teaching techniques.
Show staff how a WalkThru works in practice. Use core WalkThrus that are universally useful, such as Cold Calling or Think, Pair, Share as examples to help them get to grips with the format. Keep it practical —demonstrate, discuss, and adapt it to their classroom needs.
BUILD A CORE SET.
Select a small set of WalkThrus that tackle key challenges in your school — these are your core techniques, like the key strokes in tennis. Use our series of Cluster Tools to guide selection.
Structure matters. A strong core set works as a connected cluster, not isolated techniques. Decide whether to start with a whole-school core cluster or have teams build their own, selecting 3–6 WalkThrus with the Cluster Builder Tool. Keep it focused — depth over breadth.
BUILD TECHNIQUE.
Model WalkThrus in a training session using Theory, See It, Name It, Do It. Apply A|D|A|P|T to break each step down in detail. Teachers must look closely — examining nuance, precision, and the fine margins that make a technique work.
Deconstruct models together. Identify what matters in each step. Then, rehearse with peers, refining delivery through deliberate practice and feedback. Keep it focused — start with just one or two techniques, no more. Use our Training Notes to guide the session.
BUILD A CYCLE.
Build your cycle as an iterative process — ongoing, low-stakes, and focused on development, not judgement. Set up cycles with meetings spaced 2–4 weeks apart to allow time for practice, reflection, and refinement.
Use Reality Checks to keep progress on track. Start with learning walks, then layer in video and observation to generate rich, actionable feedback. Ensure each cycle includes time for teachers to apply techniques, review impact, and adjust their approach. Keep it constructive — support, not scrutiny.
BUILD FEEDBACK.
Train leaders to run planning and feedback sessions using Bambrick Santoyo’s 5Ps approach. This isn’t a top-down process — it’s a collaborative effort. Feedback works best in teams, pairs, or triads, where teachers can reflect together on what’s landed well and what their next steps should be.
The goal? Teachers should leave feeling good about themselves, fired up and ready to go, with a clear plan of action. Keep the focus sharp: identify wins, refine technique, and move forward with purpose. See Feedback in Instructional Coaching for more.
BUILD HABITS.
Stick with the same set of WalkThrus for several cycles. Change takes time — teachers need deliberate, intentional practice before techniques truly embed. Avoid switching too soon; let them refine, adapt, and gain confidence.
Keep your focus on what’s happening for students. Are they engaging more? Thinking harder? Responding better? Classroom impact is the real measure of progress. Stay patient, stay focused, and build habits that last.
