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The teacher's encyclopedia.
A comprehensive guide to teaching strategies, learning theories, and pedagogical concepts.
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In Pedagogy
80 entries
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Accountable TalkAccountable Talk is a structured discourse framework that holds students responsible to the learning community, accurate knowledge, and rigorous thinking during classroom discussion.Action Research in EducationAction research is a systematic inquiry process where teachers investigate their own practice, collect classroom data, and use findings to improve student learning.Activating Prior KnowledgeActivating prior knowledge primes students' existing mental frameworks before new instruction, accelerating comprehension and long-term retention.Active LearningActive learning is an instructional approach that requires students to engage in meaningful cognitive activity rather than passively receiving information from a teacher.Anchor ChartsAnchor charts are co-created classroom displays that capture key concepts, processes, and vocabulary to support student thinking and reduce cognitive load during learning.Anticipation GuideAn anticipation guide is a prereading strategy that asks students to agree or disagree with statements before instruction, activating prior knowledge and surfacing misconceptions.Assistive Technology in EducationAssistive technology gives students with disabilities equitable access to learning. Learn the research, principles, and classroom applications that make AT effective.
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Choice BoardsChoice boards give students a structured menu of learning activities to choose from, boosting engagement, ownership, and differentiation across any subject or grade level.Close ReadingClose reading is a disciplined, text-centered practice where students read short, complex passages multiple times to uncover layers of meaning through evidence and analysis.Co-Teaching ModelsCo-teaching places two certified teachers in the same classroom to share planning, instruction, and assessment responsibilities , improving outcomes for all learners.Cold Calling in the ClassroomCold calling directs questions to students who have not volunteered. With structure and equity in mind, it increases engagement and accountability for all learners.Collaborative LearningCollaborative learning is a structured approach where students work together toward shared goals, building knowledge through dialogue, negotiation, and collective reasoning.Collective Teacher EfficacyCollective teacher efficacy is the shared belief among a school's staff that together they can positively impact student learning, Hattie's highest-effect factor at d = 1.57.Cooperative LearningCooperative learning structures small groups so every student contributes and depends on peers,producing stronger academic outcomes and social skills than traditional instruction.Culturally Responsive TeachingCulturally responsive teaching uses students' cultural backgrounds as assets for learning. Evidence shows it raises achievement, closes gaps, and builds belonging.
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Differentiated InstructionDifferentiated instruction tailors content, process, product, and environment to students' readiness, interests, and learning profiles so every learner reaches rigorous shared goals.Direct InstructionDirect instruction is a structured, teacher-led approach to explicit teaching that consistently produces strong learning gains across subjects and grade levels.
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Enrichment ActivitiesEnrichment activities extend learning beyond the standard curriculum, deepening understanding and challenging students who have mastered core content.Equity in EducationEquity in education means giving each student what they need to succeed, not treating all students identically. Learn the research, principles, and classroom strategies.Evidence-Based TeachingEvidence-based teaching means choosing instructional strategies proven effective through rigorous research, not habit, tradition, or marketing claims.Experiential LearningExperiential learning is a theory of education holding that knowledge is built through direct experience and structured reflection, not passive reception of information.Explicit TeachingExplicit teaching is a structured instructional approach where teachers clearly state objectives, model skills step-by-step, and guide students through practice before releasing responsibility.
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Facilitating Classroom DiscussionsClassroom discussions develop critical thinking, deepen understanding, and build academic discourse skills. Learn the research-backed principles for facilitating them effectively.Fishbowl DiscussionA structured discussion format where a small inner circle debates while an outer circle observes, building listening skills, accountable dialogue, and critical thinking.Flexible GroupingFlexible grouping is a classroom practice where teachers regularly reorganize students into different configurations based on learning goals, readiness, and social needs.Flipped ClassroomThe flipped classroom inverts traditional instruction: students encounter new content at home via video or readings, then spend class time on practice, discussion, and problem-solving.Flipped Mastery ModelThe Flipped Mastery Model combines flipped classroom video instruction with mastery-based progression, requiring students to demonstrate competency before advancing.
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Gallery Walk StrategyA gallery walk is a discussion and movement strategy where students rotate through posted materials, respond in writing or discussion, and build knowledge collaboratively.Game-Based LearningGame-based learning uses games as the primary instructional vehicle, embedding academic content in structured play to drive motivation, retention, and deep understanding.Gamification in EducationGamification applies game mechanics,points, badges, leaderboards, and challenges,to non-game learning contexts to increase student motivation and engagement.Gifted EducationGifted education encompasses specialized approaches for students who demonstrate exceptional ability, requiring curriculum and pacing beyond standard grade-level instruction.Gradual Release of ResponsibilityThe gradual release of responsibility shifts cognitive work from teacher to student through four phases: focused instruction, guided practice, collaborative work, and independent application.
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Inquiry-Based LearningInquiry-based learning places students' questions at the center of instruction, building disciplinary knowledge through structured investigation rather than passive reception.Interactive Read-AloudInteractive read-aloud transforms shared reading into a structured thinking experience, using planned stops, teacher modeling, and student dialogue to build comprehension and vocabulary.
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Kagan Cooperative Learning StructuresKagan Structures are 200+ research-backed cooperative learning formats that build interdependence, accountability, and engagement into the architecture of every lesson.KWL ChartA three-column graphic organizer where students record what they Know, Want to know, and Learned, activating prior knowledge and building metacognitive awareness.
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Maker EducationMaker education is a hands-on, design-driven approach where students build, tinker, and create to develop deep understanding, problem-solving skills, and creative confidence.Mastery LearningMastery learning holds that nearly all students can achieve high standards given sufficient time and targeted feedback. Here's the evidence behind it.Mathematical DiscourseMathematical discourse is the structured, purposeful talk students use to reason, argue, and make sense of mathematics together, a cornerstone of deep conceptual understanding.Multimodal LearningMultimodal learning uses multiple sensory channels and representational modes to strengthen memory and comprehension,backed by Mayer's Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning.
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No Opt OutNo Opt Out is a classroom technique that ensures every student must engage with correct content, eliminating the escape hatch of 'I don't know.'Number TalksNumber Talks are brief, structured classroom discussions where students solve mental math problems and share their reasoning strategies aloud, building number sense and mathematical communication.
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Peer TutoringPeer tutoring is a structured instructional strategy where students teach and support each other's learning, producing measurable gains for both the tutor and the learner.Place-Based EducationPlace-based education uses the local community and environment as the primary context for learning, grounding curriculum in the real places students know.Problem-Based LearningProblem-based learning is a student-centered pedagogy where learners tackle complex, real-world problems before receiving direct instruction, building knowledge through investigation.Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)Professional Learning Communities are collaborative teacher teams that use shared inquiry, data analysis, and collective accountability to improve student outcomes.Project-Based Learning (PBL)Project-Based Learning is a structured teaching method where students investigate complex, real-world questions and produce authentic work for a real audience.
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Real-World Connections in LearningReal-world connections in learning anchor academic content to authentic contexts, improving comprehension, motivation, and long-term transfer of knowledge.Reciprocal TeachingReciprocal teaching is a structured dialogue strategy where students take turns leading discussions using four comprehension strategies: predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing.Reflective Practice for TeachersReflective practice is the disciplined habit of examining your own teaching to improve it, grounded in Dewey and Schön, and supported by decades of research.Response to Intervention (RTI)Response to Intervention is a multi-tier framework that uses ongoing assessment data to match instructional support to student need, catching learning difficulties before they become entrenched.
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Scaffolding in EducationScaffolding provides temporary, structured support that helps students complete tasks beyond their current ability, then fades as competence grows.Scientific Inquiry in the ClassroomScientific inquiry transforms students into active investigators who ask questions, collect evidence, and construct explanations, the same process scientists use.Sentence Starters and FramesSentence starters and frames give students the linguistic scaffolding to articulate complex ideas, participate in academic discourse, and develop discipline-specific language.Service LearningService learning integrates meaningful community service with academic instruction and reflection, developing civic responsibility while deepening subject-matter knowledge.Socratic QuestioningSocratic questioning is a disciplined technique of probing inquiry that challenges assumptions, exposes reasoning gaps, and deepens conceptual understanding through structured dialogue.Station Rotation ModelThe station rotation model cycles students through learning stations on a fixed schedule, blending teacher-led, peer, and digital instruction in a single class period.Stretch ItStretch It is a questioning technique that pushes students beyond a correct answer, using targeted follow-up prompts to build reasoning, analysis, and deeper understanding.Structured Academic Controversy (SAC)Structured Academic Controversy is a cooperative learning protocol where student pairs argue opposing positions on a complex issue, then work toward consensus through structured dialogue.Student AutonomyStudent autonomy is the degree to which learners direct their own learning, choosing goals, methods, and pace, grounded in self-determination theory and decades of motivation research.Student Voice and ChoiceStudent voice and choice gives learners agency over what, how, and why they learn, increasing engagement, motivation, and ownership of academic outcomes.Student-Centered LearningStudent-centered learning shifts instructional authority from teacher to learner, using evidence-based structures that build agency, deepen understanding, and sustain motivation.Supporting Multilingual LearnersMultilingual learners bring rich linguistic assets to the classroom. Evidence-based strategies help teachers build on those assets to accelerate academic language and content mastery.
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Teacher ClarityTeacher clarity makes learning intentions, task expectations, and explanations unambiguous to students. It is one of the strongest predictors of student achievement.Teaching StrategiesTeaching strategies are the deliberate instructional techniques teachers use to help students learn. Learn which approaches are most effective and why.The Socratic MethodThe Socratic Method uses disciplined questioning to expose assumptions, build reasoning, and develop genuine understanding,rather than transmitting information directly.Think-Aloud StrategyThe think-aloud strategy makes invisible cognitive processes visible by having teachers or students verbalize their thinking in real time during reading and problem-solving.Tiered InstructionTiered instruction is a structured approach to differentiation where teachers design multiple versions of a task at varying complexity levels to meet students where they are.TranslanguagingTranslanguaging is a pedagogical approach that treats multilingual learners' full linguistic repertoire as a resource, not a barrier, to deeper understanding.Turn and TalkTurn and Talk is a structured discussion technique where students briefly discuss a prompt with a partner, building comprehension and verbal reasoning in real time.
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Wait Time in QuestioningWait time is the deliberate pause a teacher holds after posing a question or after a student responds. Research shows 3 seconds changes everything.Word WallsWord walls are organized classroom displays of key vocabulary that serve as permanent reference tools, supporting word recognition, spelling, and content comprehension across all grade levels.Writing Workshop ModelThe Writing Workshop Model is a structured instructional framework where students write daily, receive targeted mini-lessons, and develop as authors through conferencing and peer feedback.