Curiosity and Powerful Learning Series

Curiosity drives the impulse to learn—for students and for educators alike—and our Curiosity and Powerful Learning series of manuals shows teachers, principals, and school teams how to systemically develop and support curious learners and create an effective, sustainable learning system.

Based on a successful school improvement effort in Melbourne, Australia, these manuals help teachers, instructional coaches, school leaders, and system administrators embark on a professional journey to lift student literacy, numeracy, and curiosity. Written originally for Australian educators, the theories of action and recommended activities outline practices that have been tested and refined in schools over time and can be easily adapted and used by schools around the world, including the U.S.

The manuals at the core of the series explain how powerful learning is made real for our students through purposeful, specific changes in whole school culture, classroom culture, leadership practices, and teaching practices. The manuals advance the notion of “precision without prescription”–helping educators increase their knowledge and abilities regarding highly effective teaching strategies and allowing them to thoughtfully apply these skills themselves, as professionals, rather than prescribing a specific instructional program and mandating it be followed step-by-step, word-by-word.

The series also includes three sequential Models of Practice manuals, which explore in depth six instructional strategies that get to the heart of the learning experience, including cooperative group work, synectics, whole-class teaching, concept attainment, inductive teaching, and mnemonics.