A Game-Changer for Classroom Success
When I hear the word rehearsal, I picture a jazz band tightening their rhythm or a basketball team running drills before tip-off.
In a performance based professional like teaching and coaching, why do we skip that step?
I still remember my first year in the classroom, 1st period was rough. My explanations were wordy, my transitions clunky, and I didn’t anticipate the “creative” answers my students would throw at me. By 2nd period, things were smoother. Not magic, just practice.
Rehearsing is not just a helpful strategy, it’s a high-leverage move that boosts clarity, responsiveness, and learning outcomes.
Rehearsal Bridges the Gap Between Planning and Execution
A lesson plan is just the blueprint. The real artistry comes in how you deliver, how you model, question, and respond when things go off-script.
Doug Lemov, author of Practice Perfect, argues that practice transforms knowledge into skill. “Unpracticed, we are nervous and unprepared, clumsy where we should be confident.” Through rehearsal, we build fluency and agility, which directly impacts presence in the classroom.
Once I started practicing my opening connection and examples out loud and with my team, I noticed my explanations became cleaner, I made fewer awkward pivots, and my students caught on faster.
Rehearsal Creates Space for Feedback and Growth
One of my favorite coaching moments was with a new teacher who was nervous about leading a math discussion. We closed the door, set up a few “pretend students” (a.k.a. me and another teacher), and ran through her opening.
The difference between the first and third run was huge, her voice was steady, her questions sharper, and she actually smiled through the awkward questions she was not expecting.
Rehearsals give a safe, low-stakes setting to try, fail, adjust, and try again. This is especially powerful when supported by a coach or peer. According to a piece by Peps Mccrea, Rehearsal in PD, rehearsing allows for iterative improvement, targeted feedback, and alignment to teaching goals.
The TeachingWorks project at the University of Michigan highlights the power of practice-based teacher education, where teachers rehearse high-leverage practices in preparation for the classroom. This approach is foundational to developing effective, responsive educators.
Rehearsal Builds Instructional Agility
Here’s the truth. No lesson survives first contact with students exactly as planned. I once had a 6th grader raise his hand mid-lesson and say, “What if the answer’s infinity?”
In my early years, that would have thrown me off completely. However, because I had rehearsed my questioning sequence and why that sequence mattered, I could lean in, connect his idea to our objective, and keep the momentum going.
Ollie Lovell outlines this idea well in his article If You Want Teachers to Improve, Get Them to Rehearse. He emphasizes that rehearsal is key to building responsive teaching habits, not just scripted delivery.
Rehearsing Strengthens Teacher Talk
When I first started teaching and even coaching, I had no idea how much my exact words mattered. I’d sometimes over-explain a concept and watch eyes glaze over.
Now, I rehearse aloud, especially my opening hook and first set of questions. Saying it out loud shows me where I’m wordy, where I can pause, and where to push for deeper thinking. Nine times out of ten, students and participants are more engaged right from the start.
Discourse begins with intentional language. Rehearsing allows me to sharpen how I phrase questions, launch activities, and scaffold discussions.
Practicing aloud, even just the first five minutes of a lesson, can make a significant difference in engagement and understanding.
6 Steps to Help Teachers Try Rehearsal
If you’re a coach, coordinator, or leader, here’s how you can support teachers in integrating rehearsal into their practice:
- Model for the Teachers: Go first and go often. Show others how you plan for your rehearsal and ask for feedback.
- Use a Simple Protocol: Structure the rehearsal: identify the objective, script a key moment, practice aloud, and reflect.
- Start Small: Ask teachers to rehearse just the opening 5 minutes or a key explanation from the lesson.
- Provide Feedback: Watch the rehearsal and offer specific, bite-sized feedback tied to instructional moves.
- Normalize the Process: Make rehearsal a routine part of planning meetings, not a one-time activity.
- Celebrate Growth: Highlight how rehearsal led to stronger instruction and student understanding.
Compass Teaching & Learning 