With increasing expectations and new standards, it can be tempting to throw everything (including the proverbial kitchen sink) at our students. Doing so may, in fact, hinder learners’ understanding of a topic and have the opposite of the desired effect. Instead, by applying research-based strategies, we can ensure that even complex topics are presented in…
Where does learning occur? Where does learning occur? The obvious answer for teachers is in the classroom. But the real answer is that learning occurs in the student’s brain. Bestselling author Daniel Coyle in his book The Talent Code describes the process of learning a skill as a process of neural pathways being insulated…
In spring 2014, the New York State Education Department released a newly developed Blueprint for English Language Learner Success. It is a groundbreaking statement that sets high expectations for English Language Learners and recommends a new Seal of Biliteracy on students’ diplomas. In this way, the state recognizes the economic and cultural value of being…
A Primer on How Students (and All Humans) Learn One of the struggles of teaching is presenting often complex material to students in a manner that they can comprehend. Through a basic understanding of how students (and all humans) learn, we, as teachers, can introduce content to our students in a way that will…
What is Checking for Understanding? Checking for Understanding (CFU) is the backbone of effective instruction. Checking for Understanding is the teacher continually verifying that students are learning what is being taught while it is being taught. CFU provides the teacher the opportunity to improve learning based on student responses throughout the teaching and learning process.…