Mindful Classrooms

The purpose of this site is to share our journey of growth as learners through Reflective and Brain-Based Approaches to Culturally Responsive Teaching. By engaging in this process, we aim to enhance teaching and learning in all classrooms, fostering strong partnerships with administrators and teachers dedicated to this mission. This aligns with our commitment to providing a first-class education for the whole child, challenging and supporting each student to discover a passion for learning while designing and achieving a personal vision of success.

We believe that all children deserve equitable educational experiences that foster engagement, rigor, achievement, and overall success, regardless of their background or circumstances. As educators, we believe it is our responsibility to grow our practices through action research and reflective practice to meet these needs.

Our Story

We began our careers as classroom teachers and later transitioned to instructional coaches. In our coaching roles, we primarily focused on providing professional development in best practices to enhance student engagement and achievement. Despite our efforts and consistent feedback, we noticed recurring conversations, repetitive questions, and the lack of desired changes in outcomes.

Recognizing the need for a new approach, we decided to collaborate. One of us, a literacy and instructional coach with expertise in reflective practice, and the other, an English-Language Development Coordinator in one of Pennsylvania’s most diverse school districts. Together we embarked on an action research journey partnering with a group of administrators and teachers to leverage our knowledge of brain science, cultural responsiveness, best instructional practices, and data-informed teaching. Through our action research and reflective practice, our goal is to provide the best educational experience for all children, close the achievement gap in our district for good, and share our learning all along the way.