Thoughtful Classroom Online Professional Learning Suites

There is no doubt whatsoever: Of all the factors that we can control as educators, the quality of classroom instruction has the greatest impact on student achievement. Hands down. By far. Nothing else is close.

So how can we help our teachers, instructional leaders, and school leaders zero in on instruction and work together to raise its quality—in a way that’s manageable and cost-effective?

Thoughtful Classroom Professional Learning Suites make it easier than ever to improve teaching and learning in classrooms and across schools and districts.

Designed and led by today’s top expert on instruction, Dr. Harvey Silver, along with the Thoughtful Classroom team, each suite focuses your team on important instructional goals and models specific instructional tools and strategies for addressing those goals.

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So Many Ways to Fuel Your Learning

Every suite provides your team with a wealth of learning resources to help you improve practice.

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Video Tutorials

Brief and engaging presentations that show you how to use tools and strategies

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Key Content Cues

All the critical content from the tutorials in a handy PDF that makes it easy to review and plan

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PD Resources & Supplements

Targeted supports, including sample lessons, teacher tips, and classroom video segments

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Planning and Reflection Guides

Fillable forms that make planning lessons and reflecting on the results a snap

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Classroom Resources

Ready-to-use resources, including student handouts, reproducibles, and classroom posters

Check out all of the

Thoughtful Classroom Professional Learning Suites

TOOLS and Strategies for Active, In-depth Learning

NEW! Helping Students Connect Personally with Learning

Tools and strategies for getting students more personally invested in classroom learning

TOOLS and Strategies for Active, In-depth Learning

Promoting Classroom Inquiry

Turn everyday lessons into inquiry-based learning experiences—no matter what content or grade level you teach.

TOOLS and Strategies for Active, In-depth Learning

Improving Reading Comprehension

Equip students with the reading tools and skills they need to make meaning of challenging texts and understand new content deeply.

TOOLS and Strategies for Active, In-depth Learning

Unlocking the Power of Comparative Thinking

Capitalize on the untapped power of comparison: Use it to design better lessons, enhance classroom discussions, nurture creativity, and improve students’ decision making.

TOOLS and Strategies for Active, In-depth Learning

Moving From Note Taking to Note Making

Help your students become active note makers who can process new learning, manage and summarize information, and use their notes to achieve various learning goals.

Using Feedback to Advance Student Learning

Create a “feedback culture” in your classroom that inspires improvement, leads to deeper learning, and helps all students develop a growth mindset.

The Five Episodes of Effective Instruction

Make the work of instructional design easier and more effective by addressing five universal goals, or episodes, that define all successful learning sequences.

The Four Cornerstones of Effective Classrooms

Learn the essential elements that characterize all effective classrooms—and use them to promote better student behavior and higher levels of thinking and learning.

Want to Build Your Own Custom Suite?

No problem! We build custom suites for schools and districts all the time. We’re happy to work with you and your team to select a focused set of tools and strategies tied directly to your school improvement goals and priorities.

Check out the available tool and strategy tutorials below.

Building Positive Relationships

All for One & One for All
Check Your Mood at the Door
Community CIRCLE
Getting to Know You
Interaction in an Instant
Say “S” to Resolving Conflicts

Classroom Inquiry

Inquiry Frames
Mystery
Inductive Learning
If-Then
Yes-No Inquiry

Classroom Management

7-Step Directions
Procedural PRO
Respectfully Yours
Rules to Live & Learn By
Student-Friendly Learning Targets

Comparative Thinking

Designing Great Comparison Lessons
Metaphorical Expression
Decision Making
Community CIRCLE
Forced Choice

Feedback

STAIRS (Principles of Effective Feedback)
Glow & Grow
What & Why Feedback
The “Ps” to Better Work
PEERS
Knee-to-Knee Conference
The Five Cs of In-Lesson Feedback

Formative Assessment

Clear or Cloudy?
Stop, Slow, Go!
Questioning in Style
Because
Graduated Difficulty

Improving Reading Comprehension

Power Previewing
Mind’s Eye
Single-Sentence Summaries
Scavenger Hunt
Reading Stances
4-2-1 Summarize
Reading for Meaning

Increasing Engagement

Classroom Games
Divergent Thinking
Effort Tracker
Personal Best
Scavenger Hunt
Questioning in Style

Lesson & Unit Design

“Five Episodes” Design Framework
Essential Questions
A Study In . . .
Concept Word Walls

Note Making & Summarizing

Window Notes
Math Notes
Interactive Note Making
Three Ways of Webbing
Split Screen
S-O-S Graphic Organizers
4-2-1 Summarize
AWESOME Summaries

Nurturing Thinking Skills & Habits

3C Word Walls
Because
Forced Choice
The Power of Pause
Power Previewing

Setting Clear Learning Objectives

Learning Window
Student-Friendly Learning Targets
Post-Discuss Reference (PDR)

Perfect for Instructional Leadership Teams and PLCs

Does your PLC sometimes struggle to get that crystal-clear focus on instruction? Are you an Instructional Leader or part of an Instructional Leadership team looking for a better way to help teachers grow? Thoughtful Classroom Professional Learning Suites are the answer. The suites provide the focused content, practical tools, and “common language” that PLCs and ILTs need to promote schoolwide improvement. And as your needs and goals evolve, so can your suite. It’s easy to add new content, new tools and strategies, and new PD resources.

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Learn How We Can Help Instructional Leaders

Your Path to Improvement Starts Here

Check Out a Sample TOOL Tutorial

Get a FREE Suite Trial

Schedule a Suite Demo

Testimonial: Mary Belcher: Suites 2

“These on-demand suites empower both instructional leaders and teachers to use tools and strategies to improve instruction, engage students in deeper learning, and customize each teacher’s own professional growth path.”

Mary Belcher

Instructional Lead and Learning Acceleration Specialist,

Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC) • Hazard, KY

Testimonial: Mike McQueen

“The Thoughtful Classroom Online Suites naturally and easily expanded my ability to deliver tailored and targeted professional development for my teachers. These suites have been a driving force in my school’s improvement process.”

Mike McQueen

Principal,

C.W. Davis Middle School • Flowery Branch, GA

Testimonial: Sharon Paver-Nepote

“The Thoughtful Classroom Online Suites naturally and easily expanded my ability to deliver tailored and targeted professional development for my teachers. These suites have been a driving force in my school’s improvement process.”

Dr. Sharon Paver-Nepote

Principal,

Wagoner Elementary School • Sauk Village, IL

Testimonial: Mary Belcher: Suites

“Together, the Four Cornerstones and Instructional Designer’s Toolbox suites provide the professional learning foundation that has made it possible for us to build a large-scale PD initiative focused on deeper learning.”

Mary Belcher

Instructional Lead and Learning Acceleration Specialist,

Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC) • Hazard, KY