Better Conversations

Jim Knight has spent more than two decades studying professional learning, effective teaching, and instructional coaching. He is a Research Associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning and the President of the Instructional Coaching Group. Jim earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards. The pioneering work Jim and his colleagues have conducted has led to many innovations that are now central to professional development in schools. Jim wrote the first major article about instructional coaching for the Journal of Staff Development, and his book Instructional Coaching (2007) offered the first extended description of instructional coaching. Jim’s book Focus on Teaching (2014) was the first extended description of how video should be used for professional learning. Recently, writing with Ann Hoffman, Michelle Harris, and Sharon Thomas, Jim introduced the idea of instructional playbooks with their book on that topic. Jim has written several books in addition to those described above, including Unmistakable Impact (2011), High-Impact Instruction (2013), Better Conversations (2015), The Impact Cycle (2018), and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021). Knight has also authored articles on instructional coaching and professional learning in publications such as Educational Leadership, The Journal of Staff Development, Principal Leadership, The School Administrator, and Kappan. Jim is also a columnist for Educational Leadership.Through ICG, Knight conducts coaching workshops, hosts the Facebook Live series, “Coaching Conversations,” and provides consulting for coaching programs around the world. Click Below to Order These Key Titles for Instructional Coaches, Education Leaders, and Classroom Teachers Instructional Coaching: A Partnership Approach to Improving Instruction Better Conversations: Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected The Reflection Guide to Better Conversations Unmistakable Impact: A Partnership Approach to Dramatically Improving Instruction High-Impact Instruction: A Framework for Great Teaching The Impact Cycle: What Instructional Coaches Should Do to Foster Powerful Improvements in Teaching The Reflection Guide to the Impact Cycle

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Chapter 1: Radical Brokenness and Better Conversations
Chapter 2: The Better Conversations Beliefs
Chapter 3: Listening With Empathy
Chapter 4: Fostering Dialogue
Chapter 5: Asking Better Questions
Chapter 6: Connecting
Chapter 7: Finding Common Ground
Chapter 8: Redirecting Toxic Words and Emotions
Chapter 9: Building Trust
References
Study Participants
Index