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Helping Kids Soar: Children Reaching Their Full Potential with Direct Instruction

Helping Kids Soar: Children Reaching Their Full Potential with Direct Instruction

Direct Instruction (DI) is often used to help students who are struggling academically. DI can be used to accelerate the learning of higher performing students, too. The 16-minute video, Helping Kids Soar: Children Reaching Their Full Potential with Direct Instruction, portrays two schools in different parts of the country that have used DI successfully with all children, including high-performing students: Emerson Elementary in Alliance, Nebraska, and Fickett Elementary in Atlanta, Georgia.

Both schools follow a similar formula for achieving success:

  • All teachers and instructional aides received initial training and ongoing support from the National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI).
  • Students are grouped homogeneously and placed at their skill level.
  • Student performance data is reviewed weekly to determine the appropriateness of instruction for all students.
  • Students are allowed to progress at a faster pace and cover advanced content as their performance indicates.

The video shows how careful implementation of Direct Instruction with NIFDI support can bring out the joy and wonder of reading while preparing students for advanced content. 

Video Resources

Video Guide
Transcript
Helping Kids Soar (with Spanish subtitles) – Translations and subtitles courtesy of Carlos Vílchez-Román and Juan Villaorduña Velarde.

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What is a Peer Coach?

Peer coaches play a critical role in sustaining strong implementation of Direct Instruction (DI) at the school level. Selected during the first year of implementation, peer coaches are classroom teachers who demonstrate strong instructional practice, effective communication with colleagues, and a willingness to support others. Because they teach the same programs as their peers, they bring practical expertise and shared experience that help build trust and collaboration across the school.

As implementation progresses, peer coaches extend the impact of NIFDI consultants by providing ongoing, school-based support when consultants are not on-site. Their coaching is non-evaluative and focused on improving student outcomes. Peer coaches reinforce effective teaching practices and guide colleagues to make targeted adjustments that directly impact student performance and behavior.

Peer coaches participate in a structured, multi-year training sequence through NIFDI. Over the course of two to three years, they are trained to analyze student performance data, conduct both brief and extended classroom observations, and support data-driven problem solving. Advanced training prepares them to lead grade-level meetings and contribute to broader instructional planning with school leadership.

By developing peer coaches, schools build internal capacity to maintain and strengthen DI implementation over time—ensuring continuity, supporting new staff, and driving sustained student achievement.