What distinguishes successful schools from less successful schools? It’s a question that has guided our work in schools for over forty years. The answer, believe it or not, is not knowledge. Educators in effective schools don’t possess some secret knowledge that their counterparts have missed out on. Instead, research and experience show that what separates successful schools from the rest is something called the knowing-doing gap. Successful schools are able to cross this gap by turning their knowledge into practice, while less successful schools remain on the knowing side of the gap. In these schools, knowledge doesn’t translate into better practice or results.
Dr. Harvey Silver, President of Silver Strong & Associates
and author of "The Core Six," published by ASCD
So how do we bridge the gap? What are the challenges of practice that keep teachers from turning what they know about good instruction into classroom reality? In serving schools for the better part of five decades, we have worked with thousands of educators to identify those challenges of practice that pose the greatest obstacles to achieving results. Through this process, we have developed an award-winning library of over 200 classroom-ready instructional tools for addressing these challenges. Tools give teachers and leaders the “how” they need to turn knowledge into practice.
A Targeted Process for Overcoming Challenges of Practice and Getting Results
Using instructional tools, the Thoughtful Classroom team can help you build a customized improvement plan focused on overcoming those challenges of practice that are impeding achievement in your school or district. Here's how it works:
- Clarify what we know
We work with your team to review data, standards, and relevant research
so we can identify ‘best bets’ for raising achievement.
- Identify the challenges
We pinpoint the challenges of practice that hamper improvement.
- Select and use tools
We identify tools that address the challenges of practice—and work with
your staff to implement these tools in their classrooms.
- Collect and review evidence
We delineate and look for specific evidence of improvement, and we use our
findings to determine next steps.