instructionalempowerment, Author at Instructional Empowerment

The Turnaround Trap front cover

District Leaders School Leaders

The Turnaround Trap: Why Quick Fixes Fail Students

Original research and insights to build the systems for school improvement.

instructionalempowermentSeptember 25, 2025

Four pre-K students sit together on a carpet, writing on a Summarizing Mat from the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning as they develop early literacy skills and experience the full rigor of the pre-K curriculum.

District Leaders School Leaders

Activating Rigor in Your Pre-K Curriculum with Deeper Learning

It’s a common question: Can pre-K students really engage in deeper learning? The answer—backed by…

instructionalempowermentJune 2, 2025

School administrator stands in front of a screen showing bar graphs going up, which is the data from a classroom walkthrough tool, RigorWalk and Rigor Appraisal.

District Leaders School Leaders

How Schools Are Increasing Student Achievement with RigorWalk, a Research-Validated Classroom Walkthrough Tool

RigorWalk is a research-validated classroom walkthrough tool proven to predict student achievement and used nationwide,…

instructionalempowermentMay 21, 2025

District Leaders School Leaders

[Peer-Reviewed Research] Leading Indicators of Academic Achievement: Investigating the Predictive Validity of an Observation Instrument in a Large District

This study of 53 Illinois schools examines the validity of the Rigor Appraisal tool.

instructionalempowermentApril 22, 2025

Three elementary age students work on a colorful carpet on the floor, with a whiteboard mat between them and dry erase markers, using a tool from the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning.

District Leaders School Leaders

English Learners Are Capable of More—If We Make the Shift to Deeper Learning

To improve outcomes for English learners, we need a model of instruction that empowers all…

instructionalempowermentApril 16, 2025

Four elementary students sit with their desks pushed together, reading books, writing, and having a team discussion as they engage in a model of deeper learning that integrates all students, including those with IEPs.

District Leaders School Leaders

Why Students with Disabilities Are Still Left Out—And How to Change That with Deeper Learning

Students with IEPs are often left out of deeper learning. To truly include them and…

instructionalempowermentApril 9, 2025

Three elementary students in a Title 1 school sit at a table together, writing on a summarizing mat from the Model of Instruction for Deeper Learning as they engage in deeper learning.

District Leaders School Leaders

Deeper Learning for Title 1 Schools

Within Title 1 schools lies the promise of an uplifting public education system if we…

instructionalempowermentMarch 28, 2025