Elizabeth Iwaszewicz, a kindergarten teacher at Lafayette Elementary School in San Francisco, pairs English-language learners with native English speakers so that they can work together to develop their use of academic language. She uses the pair-and-share exercise to manage transitions between activities.
Viet-ly Nguyen, a 6th grade English teacher at Westlake Middle School in Oakland, Calif., uses academic discussions to allow students to share and compare their interpretations on social justice issues within a complex text. Engaging in academic discourse prepares students to begin writing well-developed responses.
Antoinette Pippin, a 5th grade teacher at the Dr. Theodore T. Alexander Junior Science Center School in Los Angeles, utilizes artwork to teach students about sustainable ecosystems. Students compare and contrast scientific and artistic characteristics to make claims about the health of an ecosystem and to explore the balance found in nature and art.
Jen Saul, a 3rd grade teacher at East Palo Alto Charter School in California, creates a positive classroom culture by using a classroom pledge to help students remember learning expectations and by supporting students as they learn to work together toward academic success.
Mary Abdul Wajid, a kindergarten teacher at Aspire Berkley Maynard Academy in Oakland, Calif., uses visual aids to help her students recall classroom expectations and determine their needs before asking for help.
Chuck Pack, a math teacher at Tahlequah High School in Oklahoma, shares how he answers students' questions of when they are going to use his lessons beyond the classroom. He helps students make real-world connections to their work so they see the value of the learning process.
Melissa Porfirio, a 1st grade teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in Springfield, Va., uses academic choice to allow her students to choose how they demonstrate their comprehension of fairy tales. She uses interactive read-alouds and think-pair-share activities to help students identify story elements and work collaboratively to develop critical thinking skills.
Marlo Warburton, a 7th and 8th grade math teacher at Longfellow Arts and Technology Middle School in Berkeley, Calif., shares how greeting her students in the morning and expressing appreciation during dismissal are valuable opportunities for character building and for fostering teacher-student relationships.
Lindsay Young, a high school teacher at Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, Calif., shares how she scaffolds instruction to support English-language learners. She sets students up for success by gradually releasing responsibility to meet the needs of diverse learners through individual and collective learning.
Debora Gaten, a 5th grade teacher at John P. Freeman Optional School, and Sherwanda Chism, a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Winridge Elementary School, both in Memphis, Tenn., share how they collaborate on curriculum instruction and lesson delivery to improve their teaching practices and boost student achievement.