Deconstructing Walkthrus
An interactive guide to the evidence-informed system for improving teaching. Explore its architecture, theory, application, and critical considerations.
What is Walkthrus?
Walkthrus is not just a book, but a complete system for professional development. It’s designed to translate complex educational research into clear, actionable steps for teachers. At its core are three key components.
The Synthesis
The core strength of Walkthrus comes from the collaboration between educator Tom Sherrington and designer Oliver Caviglioli. Sherrington provides the pedagogical expertise, curating evidence-based techniques, while Caviglioli’s design expertise makes these concepts visually accessible and easy to remember through dual coding.
The 5-Step Guides
Each of the 150+ teaching techniques is broken down into five discrete, memorable steps. This codification makes complex ideas digestible and helps prevent “lethal mutation”—where good ideas get distorted as they’re passed on. It creates a precise, shared language for professional practice.
The 6-Part Framework
The techniques are organized into a comprehensive taxonomy covering the key domains of teaching. This allows schools and teachers to strategically focus their professional development on specific areas of need. Select a category below to see the focus.
The ‘Why’: Grounded in Research
Walkthrus isn’t based on fads; it’s explicitly built on a foundation of cognitive science and proven pedagogical principles. Its credibility comes from translating the work of respected researchers into practical classroom actions. The most prominent influence is Barak Rosenshine’s “Principles of Instruction.”
Mapping Walkthrus to Rosenshine’s Principles
Hover over or tap a principle to see which Walkthrus categories directly support it. This shows how the system operationalizes high-impact instructional research.
The Engine for Instructional Coaching
Walkthrus is designed to be the “instructional playbook” that fuels effective coaching. It provides the specific, evidence-based content needed for high-quality professional conversations that lead to real change in the classroom.
A Shared Language
When coach and teacher share a precise understanding of what “Cold Calling” or “Scaffolding” means, feedback becomes objective and depersonalized. The Walkthrus guide becomes a neutral “third point” for discussion, reducing defensiveness and building trust.
Combating “Lethal Mutation”
The 5-step structure protects effective strategies from being distorted as they are shared. It ensures fidelity to the core principles of a technique, making professional development more reliable and scalable across a school.
The ADAPT Cycle
Implementation isn’t a one-off event. The system proposes a cycle: Attempt, Develop, Adapt, Practice, Test. This promotes a reflective approach, acknowledging that techniques must be adapted to each classroom’s unique context.
The Fidelity vs. Adaptation Paradox
A central challenge in using Walkthrus is navigating the tension between following the steps precisely (fidelity) and skillfully adapting them to the moment (adaptation).
Fidelity
Learn the steps
Professional Judgement
Apply wisdom
Adaptation
Make it your own
Effective coaching helps teachers move along this continuum, from novice implementation to expert, spontaneous artistry.
How Does Walkthrus Compare?
Walkthrus is best seen as a “playbook” of content, not a complete coaching philosophy. It provides the ‘what’ of coaching and can be integrated into various models. This chart compares it to other prominent paradigms. Hover over bars for details.
Strategic Implementation
Successful adoption isn’t about buying a book; it requires a strategic, phased approach. Leaders must build knowledge, develop coaching capacity, and create sustainable structures. Below is a recommended 4-phase plan. Click each phase for key actions.
Critical Considerations & Risks
While powerful, Walkthrus has limitations. An evidence-informed leader must understand these challenges to implement the system effectively. Hover over a challenge to see the recommended mitigation strategy.
The “Walkthrough” Conundrum
Mitigation
Relentlessly communicate the developmental, non-evaluative purpose. Frame it as “Walkthrus Coaching,” not administrative “walkthroughs,” to build trust.
Reductive Oversimplification
Mitigation
Use the 5 steps as “guide rails,” not a rigid script. Emphasize the “Why” (the underlying principles) and teach the ADAPT cycle to foster professional judgment.
Dependency on Coach Quality
Mitigation
Invest heavily in training coaches on both the Walkthrus content and a coherent coaching model (e.g., Bambrick-Santoyo, Knight). The tool is only as good as the user.
Lack of Empirical Impact Data
Mitigation
Acknowledge it’s evidence-informed, not empirically proven. Monitor your own implementation for process (Are we doing it?) and impact (Is it working here?).