The authors imagine approaches to lesson planning and classroom teaching that embrace and encourage complexity, interconnectedness, and nonlinear learning--a fractal approach to lesson planning and learning.

While reports of teachers' use of curriculum materials are common, that of teachers as designers of their own materials are far less so. We argue that these (rare) instructional materials, defined as materials that are classroom-ready and that carry the teachers' actual instructional goals, are 'objects' that are suitable as records of teachers'…

Educators have many "meetings of the minds": Grade-level planning sessions, PLCs, coaching meetings--which together should allow teachers ample opportunities to create high-quality, rigorous lesson plans that deepen student learning. But do these meetings actually work? Frequent planning sessions often become a time for teachers to…

This practice brief is written by two Black members of an IHE who instruct in a teacher preparation program. One author is an assistant professor in the department of education, and the other, is an adjunct faculty member and field supervisor for student teachers, longtime administrator, and adjunct faculty member at multiple IHEs. Additionally,…

Within a single internet search, thousands of results occur when looking for a lesson or mathematics activity. However, the results are not all of good quality. In this article, the authors present a mathematics lesson planning protocol (MLP[superscript 2]) to help process the search results and offer experiences of teachers using the protocol.…

Today, talking about educational planning generates a certain vital importance for the achievement of the goals and objectives previously established, as well as the definition of the steps and means necessary to carry out this process. However, we cannot talk about planning without addressing the assessment process as an essential element to…

Today, talking about educational planning generates a certain vital importance for the achievement of the goals and objectives previously established, as well as the definition of the steps and means necessary to carry out this process. However, we cannot talk about planning without addressing the assessment process as an essential element to…

The English classroom is an indispensable site to critically engage the social complexity of the climate crisis and COVID-19. A question comes up, however, about how to plan for such critical engagement when teaching canonical literature that is seemingly removed from the specific concerns of the current moment. The focus of this article is on…

This popular resource has transformed classrooms for thousands of teachers by providing how-to guidance for success with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students. It illustrates how to use strategies that recognize and leverage all the cultural and linguistic assets that students bring to their learning. This new edition situates…

Educators are often tasked with making decisions based on a body of evidence and a sound data-based decision-making process. Teachers examine data from assessments (e.g., curriculum-based measures, formal assessments, informal interviews with students' general education teachers, writing samples, and other assessment data) and find many students…

Ice skating, also called figure skating, can be categorized as a lifetime fitness endeavor. Figure skating has many benefits that allow skaters opportunities to learn and understand motor skill movement and patterns on the ice. The purpose of this article is to share best practices when teaching the fundamentals of figure skating. Included in…

In a classroom environment where students are encouraged to talk and share their thinking about mathematics, it comes as no surprise to find an abundance of ideas flooding the room. Yet, what does one do with all these ideas? How do teachers and students use these ideas as they learn in the classroom? Moreover, how do teachers and students manage…

Innovative teaching means the teacher is the creator, but unfortunately it does not necessarily mean the same for the students. Innovation is not just "doing" something new; it is "thinking" of new ways to improve a product, a method, or an idea. How can educators teach students to become better innovators themselves? This…

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new era of technological tools that were used by language teachers to develop their students' English language skills. As a result of the sudden shift to online instruction, teachers at the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Academy middle school had little time to prepare and had limited…

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformative potential to support the education of students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities (M/SID) and their teachers. Although research and evidence-based practices (EBPs) are integral to fostering positive student learning outcomes, educators face challenges in effectively implementing these…