Learning Together

A blueprint for structuring the school environment around teacher learning and collaboration as a foundation for equitable learning and student engagement
 
In Learning Together, Elham Kazemi, Jessica Calabrese, Teresa Lind, Becca Lewis, Alison Fox Resnick, and Lynsey K. Gibbons share findings from their decade of experience in nurturing collaborative learning cultures in elementary schools. The work offers guidance for intentionally and explicitly organizing educational institutions to prioritize and support teacher learning, which can, as the authors show, create flourishing learning systems for teachers and students alike.
 
As part of research-practice partnerships in six US elementary schools engaged in school improvement efforts, the authors observed that such deliberate school reorganization is the first step in meaningfully shifting practices from teacher-centered, procedure-based learning to student-centered, discussion-intensive learning that develops student agency. Through interviews with teachers and members of instructional leadership teams, they illustrate the myriad benefits of mutual learning in which educators are encouraged to grow their practice as part of teacher teams and as members of a likeminded professional community. The authors recommend practical actions—from establishing vision-driven hiring and retention practices to aligning resources such as time, funding, and professional development opportunities—that can help to cultivate a schoolwide ethos of instructional collaboration.
 
The wisdom highlighted in this work will be invaluable for teachers, instructional coaches, principals, district leaders, and anyone who makes decisions for students or teachers.