Political discord, social tensions, and global conflicts compel teachers to guide students in exploring diverse perspectives and engaging in constructive, respectful dialogues. Furthermore, the rapid evolution of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), necessitates teachers and school leaders to consider entirely new paradigms in…

Curriculum-based professional learning is situated within the broader professional learning ecosystem. It focuses on how to teach a specific subject for specific grades, using the specific materials that teachers will use with their students. Given the potential of curriculum-based professional learning to support teachers and strengthen…

This article describes how, in the face of staff shortages and teacher turnover, Worcester (Massachusetts) Public Schools is supporting multiple avenues to recruit and retain quality educators in the district. High-quality professional learning is one of those avenues for ensuring a strong and stable workforce. The district's Office of Curriculum…

In Saskatchewan, teachers are guided by educational policy that envisions placing Indigenous knowledge systems, cultures, and languages at the foundation of their structures, policies, and curricula. However, Non-Indigenous teachers in Canada remain uncertain about how to integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into their classrooms…

In this article, the author describes learning principles that are grounded in Daniel Willingham's (2017) simple model of the mind and suggest professional learning strategies aligned with them. These strategies are consistent with the Learning Designs standard of the Standards for Professional Learning, which states, in part, "Educators use…

As research on the benefits of social and emotional learning (SEL) continues to grow, schools across the country are using formal SEL curricula to boost students' skills. Such curricula have benefits for students' social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes, and the effects can last for up to three years post-intervention. Yet, as with…

With the ever-expanding role of technology in schools, many teachers have participated in one-time, stand-alone workshops to learn how to use a new program, app, or other tool. While that may provide a helpful introduction to the basics and highlight inspirational examples of what the tool can do, it doesn't often translate into teachers applying…

Curriculum is the "heart" of any educational Organization. Realizing its importance, many school districts engage in a curriculum renewal cycle. Doing this well can be a crucial factor in students' academic success During a typical cycle, the district identifies an area of study, at which point district and school personnel dive deep…

The Anchorage (Alaska) School District has been committed to social and emotional learning (SEL) for the last 30 years. The district achieves SEL in three ways: (1) Climate: Creating a safe andrespectful learning environment; (2) Direct instruction: Using a variety of programs to deliberately teach the SEL skills students need to be successful…

The goal of this meta-analysis was to examine whether there is a significant relationship between professional learning that is aligned to Standards for Professional Learning and teacher instruction and student achievement. Using a cutting-edge method called a mediation-meta-analysis, the authors were also able to examine whether changes in…

Curriculum-based professional learning is not just having teachers read curriculum materials, but rather includes carefully crafted experiences to support their sensemaking, deep understanding of the curriculum and its pedagogy, and ability to transfer that knowledge into practice. This instructional model requires that teachers be responsive to…

Learning Forward's Standards for Professional Learning define and describe professional learning that leads to improved educator practices, leadership, and student outcomes. Standards draw on the latest evidence and research about what works in professional learning to help educators implement every phase of the professional learning process. They…

Dealing with controversial issues is one of the most important tasks teachers perform. In this article, the author presents a few core concepts and research findings that are essential for understanding what teaching controversial issues is all about and why it is so important to develop capability in this methodology.

In this article, the author describes collaborative work with four teachers through the Lansing School District's participation in a multiyear project to implement and study the effects of the My Teaching Partner-Secondary 1:1 Video Coaching model. The model is a collaborative, individualized coaching program that focuses on effective…

Many teachers and administrators recognize the importance of social and emotional development for student success but do not feel that they have the time or tools to support social and emotional learning (SEL). The American Institutes for Research developed the "Social and Emotional Learning Coaching Toolkit: Keeping SEL at the Center"…