letsquitteaching

Stop the “One Way” Mindset & Actually Design for Learning

There’s a mindset in education that’s easy to slip into and even easier to stay stuck in. It’s the belief that there’s one right way to teach. That if we just commit fully to one method, whether that’s direct instruction, inquiry-based learning, content-first, or thinking-skills-driven, we’ll land on the “best” approach for every learner. But […]

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From “Lots” to “Less”: Building a Foundation for All Learners

Picture this: a classroom buzzing with energy. One learner rattling off facts like it’s nothing. Another stuck on question one, unsure where to start. The difference? It’s not intelligence. Not even effort. It’s what they walked in with. Some show up already loaded: homes full of books, rich conversations, museum trips, story time routines that

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Are They Working or Learning?

Let’s be honest. For decades, classrooms have been filled with compliant work disguised as learning. Neatly filled-out worksheets, meticulously copied notes, and essays that are polished but lack real thinking. Rows of learners working in silence, heads down, obediently completing tasks designed to check off standards but never designed to spark curiosity, challenge assumptions, or

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Building Assessment-Capable Learners: The Real Key to Growth

What if assessments weren’t just something learners had to endure but something they actually used? Imagine a classroom where assessments weren’t about measuring and sorting, but about guiding and growing. A space where learners didn’t brace themselves for the inevitable judgment of a grade, but instead leaned in, eager to analyze, interpret, and act on

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Are We Teaching & Designing for Independent Learners—Or Just Hoping They Show Up That Way?

Educators love to talk about learner ownership. We want our classrooms filled with motivated, self-directed, reflective, and critical-thinking learners. We praise initiative. We admire resilience. We celebrate deep thinking. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: we expect these qualities to show up, but do we actually teach them? Do we design learning spaces where they can

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The Invisible Hand That Lifts Learners: How Academic Press and Collective Teacher Efficacy Shape Success

Imagine walking into a gym for the first time, determined to get stronger. If the space is empty, the machines are dusty, and no one is pushing you, chances are, you’ll stay in your comfort zone. Maybe you’ll do a few easy reps, check your phone, and call it a day. But what if, instead,

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Leading, Not Drifting: The Essential Role of Learning in Leadership

Imagine a captain steering a ship without understanding the wind, tides, or the stars to guide them. They might keep the ship afloat and the crew busy, but they wouldn’t navigate it to the desired destination. The ship is simply drifting in whatever currents it wanders into. Without a solid understanding of what learning is

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