Young children in school uniforms fill a classroom, seated in rows. Books are open on their desks. The students are holding up colorful cards, each with a letter of the Arabic alphabet. Some are sitting, while the rest are standing with raised hands Young children in school uniforms fill a classroom, seated in rows. Books are open on their desks. The students are holding up colorful cards, each with a letter of the Arabic alphabet. Some are sitting, while the rest are standing with raised hands

Strategies

Overview

We have identified patterns in the actions teachers take in classrooms where students are growing as leaders of a better future. These transformational classrooms have shown that growing students in this way calls for more relational, student-led, discovery-oriented teaching and learning.

A version of the framework highlighting the five Strategies in distinct colors: Love & Connect (pink), Listen & Envision (orange), Learn & Design (green), Facilitate & Challenge (teal), and Reflect & Grow (purple). These represent the actions taken by collective leaders.

Discover

Check out this compilation of clips from some of the teachers, students, classrooms, schools, and communities that were part of our Global Learning Loops. What do these classrooms have in common? What key strategies do you see?

Learn

Our studies suggest that five families of actions (which we are calling “strategies”) distinguish transformational classrooms. Under each of these, you will observe five specific actions (for a total of 25 actions) often found in these classrooms.

Love & Connect
to build culture

Build relationships

Foster belonging

Nurture culture

Know yourself

Be human

Listen & Envision
to co-create purpose

Broaden perspectives

Host dialogue & discussion

Partner with families & community

Critically examine history

Collectively envision success

Learn & Design
to plan learning experiences

Build critical knowledge

Plan backwards

Value learner variability & ownership

Expect higher-order thinking

Leverage learning theory

Facilitate & Challenge
to inspire learning

Facilitate effectively

Manage norms & rituals

Foster collective discovery

Flexibly adjust course

Monitor learning & progress

Reflect & Grow
to fulfill potential

Take care of yourself

Pause & reflect

Find & foster allies

Seek feedback

Learn & unlearn

 

“It turns out, if you are a teacher working to help students improve their lives and their communities’ futures, you do things very differently than teachers who are working to raise test scores.”

— Franco Mosso, Co-founder & former CEO, Enseña Perú

Franco Mosso

“It turns out, if you are a teacher working to help students improve their lives and their communities’ futures, you do things very differently than teachers who are working to raise test scores.”

—  Franco Mosso, CEO & Co-founder, Enseña Perú

Portrait shot of Franco Mosso, a bald man with dark eyes and light facial hair. He is wearing glasses and smiling. He is wearing a collared, long-sleeved shirt.

Do

Explore an emerging toolkit of strategies for developing student leadership designed for teachers and teacher coaches, and other recommended resources:

131 resource(s)
TACL
What Leadership Do We Need Now?: Voices From the Teach For All Network on How We Can Shape a Better Future
Teaching / Lesson Plan Strategy Love & Connect
TACL
Wisdom Amouzou: Education Is a Means for Liberation
Video Strategy
Languages: English, Español
TACL
2020 Teachers of the Year on Practicing Self Care
Video Strategy Facilitate & Challenge
TACL
Anseye Pou Ayiti (Part 1): To Change the Future We Need to Know Our Past and Reclaim Our Identity
Video Strategy Listen & Envision
Languages: English, Français
TACL
Strategies Chapter - TACL Guide
Teach For All Insight Strategy Love & Connect Listen & Envision Learn & Design Facilitate & Challenge Reflect & Grow
TACL
GirlTrek: When One Million Black Women Walk
Video Strategy Reflect & Grow

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Our Glossary

In our attempt to capture the real spirit of the classrooms we have studied, we have sometimes intentionally used words and phrases in a slightly unusual way. 

We invite you to learn more about our language choices by exploring our Glossary.