Imagine a classroom where every lesson feels like a step toward a clear and meaningful destination.
The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Clarity by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey offers an accessible, fully illustrated introduction to the essential aspects of Teacher Clarity. Engaging visuals and infographics bring the principles of Teacher Clarity to life, making the basics easy to understand, remember, and apply. Teacher Clarity is not a single strategy or technique-it is a mindset and a commitment to designing and delivering instruction in ways that make learning visible and attainable for all students.
Start with The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Clarity to build your foundation, then move into The Teacher Clarity Playbook to focus on and practice writing learning progressions, learning intentions, and success criteria for your own classroom.
With the Illustrated Guide, teachers will:
Grasp the "why" behind Teacher Clarity.
Discover the easy-to-follow Teacher Clarity process that seamlessly weaves together a thoughtful analysis of standards, intentional organization of lessons, meaningful assessment, and responsive instruction.
Gain actionable strategies to invite students into the learning process as partners-encouraging them to take ownership, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to thrive both in school and beyond.
Get 25+ videos, clarity checklists, and other ready-to-use tools to help you bring Teacher Clarity to your classroom.
The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Clarity and The Teacher Clarity Playbook provide a complete path-first to understanding clarity, then to bringing it to life in your teaching practice.
Douglas Fisher is professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Fisher was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. In 2022, he was inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame by the Literacy Research Association. He has published numerous articles on reading and literacy, differentiated instruction, and curriculum design, as well as books such as Your Introduction to PLC+, Welcome to Teaching, How Feedback Works, Teaching Reading, and RIGOR Unveiled. Fisher loves being an educator and hopes to share that passion with others. Nancy Frey is a professor in educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Her published titles include The Courage to Learn, The Art and Science of Coaching, How Scaffolding Works, and The Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning. Frey is a credentialed special educator, reading specialist, and administrator in California and learns from teachers and students every day. Taryl Hansen, NBCT, Ed.D is a visual practitioner and the creator of Frame the Message Ink, LLC (framethemessageink.com). She is an associate trainer for Cognitive CoachingSM and holds a doctorate in Teacher Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University. Taryl has been trained by Thinking Collaborative and Grove Consultants International, leaders in the fields of learning and cognition. As a live graphic recorder and illustrator, Taryl works internationally to create vibrant and engaging visuals that bring essential elements to the forefront for learners, enhancing retention, driving engagement, and inspiring learners to collaborate in more meaningful ways.
Introduction Section 1: What Is Teacher Clarity? Section 2: Clarity Starts with Analyzing Standards Section 3: Evidence That Indicates Students Have Met the Standards Section 4: How Learning Progresses Section 5: Communicating Daily Learning Expectations Section 6: Teacher Clarity Is More than Learning Intentions and Success Criteria Final Thoughts End Notes Index
"This book is an outstanding resource that makes John Hatties research on learning intentions and success criteria both accessible and practical for educators. Fisher and Frey provide a clear, engaging framework that will help teachers create purposeful learning environments where students thrive. It is a must-have for schools committed to clarity, equity, and impact." -- Christopher Robinson, Principal "Clarity was the missing piece that we had been searching for in pursuit of student success. Our teachers are now able to successfully make learning visible to all students by creating clear learning intentions and success criteria. Teacher Clarity has united us as a team to ensure that learning is not only taking place but is visible to all." -- Mendy Felton, Academic Administrator "Teacher Clarity has strengthened our focus on purposeful instruction and transformed the way we teach and learn at Pea Ridge Primary. It has created a shared understanding of learning goals and success criteria for both teachers and students, leading to deeper engagement and greater success. The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Clarity is an easy-to-use resource for creating and maintaining that shared understanding." -- Darah Bennett, Principal