Author Commentary
As the authors ofThe Power of Student Teams: Achieving Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Learning in Every Classroom Through Academic Teaming (2019), Michael D. Toth and David A. Sousa bring their unique expertise to this new model of teaching and learning. Toth is an expert on instructional methodology, techniques for leading the shift to academic teaming, and the research base behind academic teaming. Dr. Sousa is an expert on educational neuroscience, brain-friendly classroom strategies, and translating brain research into educational practice.
If you have a question about academic teaming, please submit it here—it may be chosen as the topic of Toth or Sousa’s next article or video!
Follow Michael D. Toth on social media for academic teaming insights and advice, as well as his experiences from visiting classrooms, schools, and districts that are implementing academic teaming.
How Can Educators Differentiate Instruction for ELLs Through Academic Teaming?
ELLs in Team-Centered Classrooms English Language Learners can thrive in inclusion or mainstream classrooms, as long as an effective instructional model is in place. Team-centered classrooms benefit ELLs' speaking skills while giving them a personalized, rigorous...
How Does Academic Teaming Specifically Benefit English Language Learners?
We need to think beyond traditional English Language Learner strategies to rethinking the classroom environment for ELLs (and all students) to thrive. The traditional classroom setting—where students are expected to sit quietly in their seats and passively memorize...
What Strategies Embed Peer Teaching and Peer Coaching into Academic Teaming?
Peer Teaching and Coaching Through Academic Teams Peer teaching and coaching is a key element in the development of students' social-emotional skills, as well as other crucial 21st-century workforce skills like critical thinking and creative problem solving. We have...
How Do Teaming Structures Maximize Student Learning?
Group Work vs. Team Tasks The key to maximizing student learning is not through group work but through team tasks. There is an enormous difference between student grouping and academic teaming. Most of us have experienced group projects in school, and often those...
Why Do We Need Academic Teaming?
Throughout these last few years, I've visited many schools and spoken with educators around the country. I see educators working very hard every day with a desire to prepare their students to persist through life's challenges and succeed in the new economy. Teachers...
How Does Brain Research Support Academic Teaming?
In recent years, an exciting new area of scientific inquiry has emerged called educational neuroscience. This field of study examines ways in which findings from brain research on how humans learn can have a meaningful impact on educational practice. Researchers have...