The Bridge
Welcome to The Bridge, the CTTL blog, where we analyze aspects of teaching and learning through a Mind, Brain, and Education Science research-informed lens. Here you will also find news from The CTTL as well as articles authored by teachers for our research publication, Think Differently and Deeply.
Let’s Talk More About Instructional Design (and the science of learning)
Gene Tavernetti and Glenn Whitman In the fall of 2025, we had the privilege to attend, present, and learn at the researchED Conference (Denver) and 3rd USA Festival of Education (Maryland). These gatherings of educators from around the country and
FEATURED POSTS
Teaching Biology in a Brain-Friendly Way
Coaching the Student Athlete’s Brain
From Belonging to Becoming
Teaching Science Through Hands-on Learning, Connection and Storytelling
Are We Just Teaching to the Mold?
CATEGORIES
Grappling with Technology in Middle School, and Winning (No, Really)
When I started as a Math teacher at St Andrew’s in 2017, there was an established norm that the sixth and seventh-grade students who brought phones to school were not
A Veteran Educator’s Journey from Traditional to Student-Centered Learning
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School middle school history teacher Dewayne Lawson shares insights from his transformative 20-year teaching journey. This article explores his shift from traditional lecture-based instruction to innovative, student-centered
Setting the Conditions for Learning: Why Belonging and Great Teaching Always Matter
Written in collaboration with Lorraine Martinez Hanley, Ian Kelleher, and Meg Lee. In 2007, during a strategic planning session at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, we asked ourselves this generative question:
Avoiding the “Year of the Brain” Trap
There is a point during each summer when schools and districts begin to accelerate preparation for the opening of a new school year. This is often geographically dependent, as schools
What Research-Informed Strategies Are You Calling For?
By Glenn Whitman I grew up playing many sports, and what I loved about each—mostly soccer (fútbol elsewhere), ice hockey, and golf—was that no training session, game, or match was
The Academy: Empowering Educators to Enhance Student Achievement
Sara McAuliffe is a passionate educator who is dedicated to fostering meaningful learning experiences. She is currently an English teacher and interim Dean of Students at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
The Evolution of the 4 Guiding Principles Chart – Empathy, Growth Mindset, Positive Identity, and Belonging for Lower School Learners
By Sung Hee Kim Earlier this school year, we sat down with Sung Hee Kim, First Grade Teacher and Lower School Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Co-coordinator at St. Andrew’s Episcopal
The Changing Landscape of Education: Insights from Andrew Seidman, Veteran Teacher and MBE Practitioner
The world of education is constantly evolving, and with the advent of new challenges and opportunities, such as AI, teaching is an indispensable art form that requires creativity, innovation, and