The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Clarity

Douglas Fisher - San Diego State University, USA
Nancy Frey - San Diego State University, USA
The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Clarity
December 2025 | 136 pages | Corwin
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eBook
ISBN: 9798348836689
Available from January 0001
Paperback
ISBN: 9798348835736
Available from January 2026

Description

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.*

*For a deeper dive into the research behind Teacher Clarity, read Teacher Clarity: Four Necessary Components for High-Impact Student Learning.

Contents

Introduction

Introduction

Section 1: What Is Teacher Clarity?

Section 1: What Is Teacher Clarity?

Section 2: Clarity Starts with Analyzing Standards

Section 2: Clarity Starts with Analyzing Standards

Section 3: Evidence That Indicates Students Have Met the Standards

Section 3: Evidence That Indicates Students Have Met the Standards

Section 4: How Learning Progresses

Section 4: How Learning Progresses

Section 5: Communicating Daily Learning Expectations

Section 5: Communicating Daily Learning Expectations

Section 6: Teacher Clarity Is More than Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

Section 6: Teacher Clarity Is More than Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

End Notes

End Notes

Index

Index

Description

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.*

*For a deeper dive into the research behind Teacher Clarity, read Teacher Clarity: Four Necessary Components for High-Impact Student Learning.

Contents

Introduction

Introduction

Section 1: What Is Teacher Clarity?

Section 1: What Is Teacher Clarity?

Section 2: Clarity Starts with Analyzing Standards

Section 2: Clarity Starts with Analyzing Standards

Section 3: Evidence That Indicates Students Have Met the Standards

Section 3: Evidence That Indicates Students Have Met the Standards

Section 4: How Learning Progresses

Section 4: How Learning Progresses

Section 5: Communicating Daily Learning Expectations

Section 5: Communicating Daily Learning Expectations

Section 6: Teacher Clarity Is More than Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

Section 6: Teacher Clarity Is More than Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

End Notes

End Notes

Index

Index

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The Illustrated Guide to Teacher Clarity


December 2025 | 136 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 27/03/2025 9798348835736 $40.95
Lifetime 16/03/2026 9798348836689 $37.00

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.*

*For a deeper dive into the research behind Teacher Clarity, read Teacher Clarity: Four Necessary Components for High-Impact Student Learning.


Table Of Contents:

  • 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

Recent Product Reviews:

"This book is an outstanding resource that makes John Hattie’s 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, Oakton Elementary School in Evanston, Illinois
"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, Arkansas Virtual Academy
"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, Pea Ridge Primary School

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