The New Classroom Instruction That Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement

The book that inspired millions of educators to refine their approach to teaching returns for an all-new third edition. Built on a more rigorous research base and updated to emphasize student diversity, equity, and inclusion, The New Classroom Instruction That Works offers a streamlined focus on the 14 instructional strategies proven to promote deep, meaningful, and lasting learning:
Cognitive interest cues
Student goal setting and monitoring
Vocabulary instruction
Strategy instruction and modeling
Visualizations and concrete examples
High-level questions and student explanations
Guided initial application with formative feedback
Peer-assisted consolidation of learning
Retrieval practice
Spaced and mixed independent practice
Targeted support
Cognitive writing
Guided investigations
Structured problem solving

These strategies―all of which are effective and complementary―are presented within a framework geared toward instructional planning and aligned with how the brain learns. For each strategy, you'll get the key research findings, the important principles of classroom practice, and recommended approaches for using the strategy with today's learners.

Both new and veteran teachers will finish this book with a better understanding of how effective teaching boosts student achievement and a clearer idea of what to do, when to do it, and why.

Bryan Goodwin is the president and CEO of McREL International, a Denver-based nonprofit education research and development organization. Goodwin, a former teacher and journalist, has been at McREL for more than 20 years, serving previously as chief operating officer and director of communications and marketing. Goodwin writes a monthly research column for Educational Leadership and presents research findings and insights to audiences across the United States and in Canada, the Middle East, and Australia.

Kristin Rouleau serves as the executive director of learning services and innovation at McREL International, where she guides a team of consultants who help schools, districts, and state education agencies and ministries of education across the United States, Canada, Micronesia, Australia, the Middle East, and China translate research into solutions that transform teaching, leading, and learning. A licensed school administrator with more than 25 years of classroom and school leadership experience, she coauthored Learning That Sticks: A Brain-Based Model for K–12 Instructional Design and Delivery, Curiosity Works: A Guidebook for Moving Your School from Improvement to Innovation and Unstuck: How Curiosity, Peer Coaching, and Teaming Can Change Your School.

Cheryl Abla is a senior managing consultant at McREL International, where she develops workshops and professional learning sessions for K–12 teachers on research-based instructional strategies in the areas of instructional technology, English learners, and developing a learner-centered classroom and school environment. She also provides consultation for technology integration, technology leadership, and McREL's classroom observation software, Power Walkthrough®. Prior to joining McREL, Abla taught all grades from 1–12 for more than 20 years. She is a coauthor of Tools for Classroom Instruction That Works (2018) and a contributor to the George Lucas Educational Foundation's Edutopia blog.

Karen Baptiste, EdD, is a consulting director of learning services and innovation at McREL International, where she provides professional learning and consulting services to schools, districts, and educational agencies. Baptiste's career started in the New York City Department of Education, where she was a special educator, instructional coach, and director of special education. She has worked with K–12 schools across the United States to support improved teaching and learning with an emphasis on quality implementation of evidence-based instructional strategies, including helping teachers create learning environments that encourage student voice and ownership of learning. Her experience also includes being an executive coach to state, district, and school leaders across the nation to transform school culture and educational experiences for students and their families.

Tonia Gibson is a senior managing consultant for McREL International's learning services team. She supports education ministries, district and school leaders, and teachers in using research to improve professional practices and support systemic improvement. She works with educators to address their identified needs, employing a range of strategies including using data for reflection, observations of practice, and analyzing people/organization performance data. In addition to leading workshops and presenting at conferences, Gibson has developed practical guides and materials for teachers and leaders and coauthored Unstuck: How Curiosity, Peer Coaching, and Teaming Can Change Your School (2018). She served as a teacher and assistant principal at primary schools in Melbourne, Australia.

Michele Kimball, a managing consultant at McREL International, leverages her experience as a bilingual early child-hood educator in Texas and as a national school support consultant to develop and support educators in ways that have a lasting impact on their students. She has helped educators and educational leaders identify and understand evidence-based best practices, skills, and processes that can be used to change their school culture, support school goals, and advance student learning. Kimball's experience includes providing data-driven, relevant professional learning and coaching services that contribute to building campus wide instructional capacity based on teachers' and students' needs.