Teachers and Teaching (Part I: Teachers)

How can teachers break out of familiar constraints in order to influence school and classroom practice, education policy, and school reform? How do we help teachers make the shift to different teaching methods and paradigms? What’s the impact on teachers, support staff, curriculum, and professional development?

Rick Hess (@rickhess99): Key take-aways from The Cage-Busting Teacher.

Joel Rose (@NCJoelRose): The changing teacher paradigm. Teach to One

 Facilitated discussion (Ruth Fletcher): How is learning and teaching changing in our schools? How are teachers adapting to the changing educational and student landscapes? What are the push-backs and how are they overcome?

From Rick Hess (@rickhess99):

Build opportunities to listen differently, work differently, think differently. Does the playbook change based on talent? When Peyton Manning came onboard, the playbook changed. How do we leverage the talent and experience under our roof?

Environment and culture matters.

Rethink time. Do more of what is working. Close gaps to gain time. Leverage expertise for impact.

What does it look like to rethink? What actions do we take? Teachers are open to things if they feel like they’re part of the design process.

From Joel Rose (@NCJoelRose):

How might we teach learners where they are? Teaching something they are not ready for is a waste of time. Teaching something they already know is a waste of time.  Teach what they are ready for, need, and can use now. Open pathways for learning. Make it personal.

Image a different classroom, a different model. Focus on R&D. Currently, lots of research with not a lot of development.  Learn, shift, learn, rethink, remix.

Close gaps to gain time.

Empower teachers to be part of the design process.

Listen to the learner.  Differentiate. Love. Learn with. Co-learning. Co-leading.

How might we holistically rethink what we do, how we learn, the ways we use time?

Lead, learn, partner, collaborate.

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I am honored to be an invited participant as NAIS gathers a group of expert educators, psychologists, and thought leaders at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education in Nashville, Tennessee, to discuss advances in the science of learning and what it tells us about teaching, curricula, and schools on May 19-20 for its fourth Deep Dive: NAIS Explores the Science of Learning and 21st Century Schools.