Professional Learning
Cognitive C.A.L.M.™
Cognitive static is real, and it is costing schools and students opportunities to learn. Cognitive C.A.L.M.™ gives educators a clear, practical framework for creating the conditions for focused, high-value learning in every classroom for every student.
A practice and principle for teaching and learning
Cognitive c.a.l.m.
Uncover the most common sources of academic "noise" in schools today and discover how Cognitive C.A.L.M.™ creates the conditions for focused, high-value learning in every classroom for every student. Each principle serves as a specific module that features best practices for elevating student learning and enhancing teachers' instructional practice. These modules can be addressed individually as a single professional development training, as a full or mult-day workshop, or as a series of trainings.
Clarity
Examine What Exactly and How Deeply Sudents Must Learn
Determine and define the depth and extent students must comprehend and communicate their learning to demonstrate proficiency in a specific subject and perform successfully at a given grade level.
Clarity Signals
- Communicating Learning Expectations
- Unwrapping & Unpacking Standards
- Deconstructing Depth of Knowledge (DOK)
- Crafting Learning Targets & Success Criteria
- Implementing the Language of Learning
- Evaluating Evidence of Student Learning
Alignment
Ensure the Work Matches the Expectation for Student Learning
Analyze and adjust the degree of alignment and consistency between academic standards, curricular activities, classroom assignments, assessment items, instructional practices, and learning experiences.
Alignment Signals
- Conducting Alignment Studies
- Measuring Cognitive Rigor
- Balancing Difficulty & Complexity
- Standards-Based Mapping & Pacing
- Vertical & Horizontal Articulation
- Designing Assessments & Rubrics
Learning
Establish Experiences That Challenge Students to Learn at Different Levels
Explore how to design and deliver teaching and learning experiences that engage all students in thinking about and transferring their learning in different contexts and at deeper levels of understanding.
Learning Signals
- Designing Rigorous & Relevant Lessons & Units
- Promoting Active Student Engagement & Inquiry
- Implementing Tiered Differentiation & Personalized Learning
- Asking Strategic Questions to Prompt Thinking
- Making Student Learning & Thinking Visible
- Building Authentic & Disciplinary Literacy
Mindset
Empower Students to Rise to Rigorous Expectations
Cultivate the conditions that empower student learning and encourage all students to rise to, reach, and exceed the expectations of the standards and realize their full potential to learn.
Mindset Signals
- Ensuring Standards-Based Learning
- Emphasizing Student-Supportive Instruction
- Establishing High Expectations for All
- Enhancing Teacher Capacity & Collective Efficacy
- Encouraging Student Agency & Voice
- Enacting Instructional Leadership & Vision
Our Approach
Training Formats
Half-Day Session
An intensive introduction and overview of Cognitive C.A.L.M.™ as a concept, framework, and method. Ideal for faculty meetings, professional development days, or conference sessions.
Full-Day Workshop
A comprehensive deep dive into all four components of Cognitive C.A.L.M.™ — Clarity, Alignment, Learning, and Mindset — with collaborative practice and planning time.
Professional Learning Series
An extended and sustainable professional learning series that builds Cognitive C.A.L.M.™ practices and principles over multiple sessions followed up with coaching and support.
Train-the-Trainer
Equip your instructional coaches and teacher leaders to facilitate and implement Cognitive C.A.L.M.™ professional learning internally to build and strengthen sustainable capacity.
Bring Cognitive C.A.L.M.™ to Your School
Schedule a consultation to learn how this one-day professional learning experience can transform teaching and learning across your organization.
Schedule a Consultation