Instructional Practice Guides
Instructional Practice Guides (IPG)
This tool allows instructional leaders to provide content-specific feedback to classroom teachers and/or professional learning communities* throughout cycles of observation. The purpose of the IPG is to determine trends in the implementation of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) across grade levels. The core actions within describe the standards alignment and grade-appropriateness of content, teacher actions, and the depth of student ownership and engagement. This tool is not designed for the evaluation of teachers, nor should it replace an established system or framework for the assessment of educator effectiveness.
*The IPG should be used only if instructional leaders have received appropriate professional learning. Your region’s Educational Service Unit (ESU) may be able to provide support. You may also contact jamie.cook@nebraska.gov or marissa.payzant@nebraska.gov for more information.
Foundational Literacy & English Language Arts
The ELA Look Fors and Foundational Literacy Look Fors are companion resources to the Nebraska Literacy Instructional Practice Guides (IPGs). The look fors identifies the observable instructional practices that instructional leaders, literacy coaches, and educators look for during classroom observations, coaching cycles, professional learning communities, and instructional reflection. The IPGs provide actionable, content-specific feedback to improve instruction.
Foundational Literacy Look Fors focuses on the essential components of early reading instruction, including explicit and systematic teaching of phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and opportunities for students to practice and apply new learning. These practices align with Nebraska’s evidence-based instructional guidance for foundational literacy.
ELA Look Fors emphasizes high-quality English Language Arts instruction, including standards alignment, text-centered learning, explicit teaching, student engagement, and opportunities for productive thinking and discussion.
Whether used during classroom observations, coaching conversations, collaborative planning, or professional learning, these resources provide a common language for instructional quality and support educators in strengthening evidence-based literacy instruction for every student.
Math & Science
Please note a re-design of the NDE’s Instructional Practice Guides is underway so that they meet new Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act federal accessibility guidelines. For more information, please visit: Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments | ADA.gov. Updates to formatting will not affect the IPG’s content or ratings.