Our Vision for a Well-Prepared Teacher

At DFI, we work towards a future when every child is taught by well-prepared teachers who:

• Honor and nurture the limitless potential, brilliance, and full humanity of each child
• Use knowledge of content and how the mind works to engage students in rigorous, affirming experiences that result in learning for every student
• Foster a physically safe and supportive community of learners
• Build meaningful relationships with students and families and leverage the assets of the community where they work
• Embrace the deep complexity of teaching, pursue their own continuous learning, and hold a commitment to ensuring all students succeed through their instructional decisions

Our work with teacher-educators, educator-preparation leaders, and policymakers is rooted in this vision. We help bridge theory and practice across several key areas:

The Science of Learning

The science of learning provides teachers and teacher-educators with an evidence-based understanding of how students learn. Knowledge and application of science of learning principles enable teachers to make more evidence-based instructional choices that engage every student in rigorous and affirming experiences.

Explore our work and resources:

Select Reports & Writings:

• The Science of Learning
• Putting learning science in practice: Using examples and non-examples
• If You Want to Remember Something, Think Hard and Dig Deep (Usable Knowledge, HGSE)

Tools & Resources:

• Science of Learning Teacher Actions Anchor Charts
• Science of Learning Coaching Tools
• Learning by Scientific Design: Instructional Modules Overview

Featured Programming:

• Learning by Scientific Design Network

High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM)

These materials are intentionally designed to increase access to grade-level rigor for all students. Learning to identify and use HQIM empowers teachers to engage in the deeply complex and intellectual work of teaching, while equipping them with the tools to support the success of every student. Use of HQIM can also lighten the planning load for novice teachers so that they can focus on building relationships with students and families and adapting instruction to meet the needs of every student, rather than designing lesson plans from scratch.

Explore our work and resources:

Select Reports & Writings:

• Addressing the Pinterest problem in teaching
• Prioritizing Use Of HQIM Among Aspiring And First-Year Teachers (Tennessee SCORE)
• Why time is a teacher’s greatest commodity and what to do when you don’t have enough of it (Learning & the Brain)

Select Tools & Resources: 

• HQIM: Planning to Respond to Student Thinking Protocol
• HQIM: Instructional Modules Overview

Featured Programming: 

• Tennessee HQIM Network

Early Literacy Instruction and Math Instruction

Evidence-based early literacy instruction and math instruction support every child to become a proficient reader, learner, and problem-solver. Our work with educators ensures that every child receives asset-based support to develop and master reading and mathematic abilities.

Explore our work and resources:

Select Reports & Writings:

• The Science of Early Learning
• Ensuring the success of future teachers to enact foundational skills literacy instruction

Select Tools & Resources: 

• Early Literacy Foundational Skills: Instructional Modules Overview
• Early Numeracy: Instructional Modules Overview (coming soon)

Featured Programming: 

• Early Literacy Network
• Early Numeracy Network

Contact Us

Get in touch to learn more about how we can support you.