The Source

By definition, LCT employs instructive practices designed to optimize opportunities for student learning. In order to optimize students’ learning, teachers must be able to answer two essential questions: Am I up-to-date on what is known about how learning happens in the human brain? Do I know what teaching actions are... Read the full article >

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of teaching is effectively reaching all learners. With 20, 30 or even 40 students in their classrooms, elementary teachers have the daunting task of meeting every student right where they are, supporting progress toward grade-level standards and cultivating the development of the whole child. On... Read the full article >

In 2012, the Effective Learning Environments Observation Tool™ (eleot™) became an integral part of both AdvancED® Accreditation and Diagnostic Reviews. Given the widespread use of eleot, the AdvancED research team has collected and analyzed data from more than 45,000 direct classroom observations, the results of which are summarized below. The... Read the full article >

They are self-directed learners with responsibility for their own learning. Martinez and McGrath (2013) identified three commonalities in developing self-directed learners. These were: disrupting traditional expectations of teaching and learning; socializing students into a school culture signaling the expectations for learners; and using a consistent pedagogical approach in which students... Read the full article >

The idea of creating environments that are learner-centered sounds attractive. However, developing a culture around learners and building systems to support learner-centered environments takes time and a process. Most teachers join the teaching profession to make a difference in children’s lives. Then reality sets in with their daily practices when... Read the full article >

Marie was the kind of pre-service teacher who believed that, in her future classroom, anything would be possible — and who made you believe it, too. We taught Marie in a class on differentiated instruction during her last semester of coursework before she began her teaching career. The following fall,... Read the full article >

Many reformers propose a “superhero fix” for our highest-need schools, placing young recruits in challenging classrooms for just a few years. However well-intentioned, it’s a solution that dodges the real problem: teaching in the 21st century is complex, challenging work. And we need millions of well-prepared, highly savvy teachers who... Read the full article >

A Student Perspective For the past 13 years I have been a student at a small independent school in St. Petersburg, Florida. Shorecrest Preparatory School has given me a top-notch education, provided me with amazing opportunities, and passed on life lessons, which have shaped me into the scholar, but more... Read the full article >

East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) in Mesa, Arizona has a saying, “Every Scholar Needs a Skill.” There is a short period of time while students are in the care of the public schools to prepare them for life after graduation. While EVIT contends that academic rigor is essential, it... Read the full article >

Education, What are we Talking About? Jenifer Fox In this article published online in HuffPost Education, Jenifer Fox provides a walk through the history of education as both a tool for understanding today’s classroom, but also to encourage parents to understand more about the possibilities in education today. From There... Read the full article >