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.
From Belonging to Becoming
by Dr. Ian Kelleher and Lorraine Martinez Hanley Four weeks ago, the CTTL concluded its 2025 Winter Webinar series, Belonging and the Brain: Creating the Conditions for Student Achievement. Why this topic? Because being intentional about belonging is a powerful
FEATURED POSTS
Teaching Science Through Hands-on Learning, Connection and Storytelling
Are We Just Teaching to the Mold?
Grappling with Technology in Middle School, and Winning (No, Really)
A Veteran Educator’s Journey from Traditional to Student-Centered Learning
Setting the Conditions for Learning: Why Belonging and Great Teaching Always Matter
CATEGORIES
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
Kiran Philip: An Early Childhood Educator’s Journey in MBE and DEB
In the fall of 2022, we interviewed Kiran Philip, a preschool teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (MD). Kiran has now entered her 19th year as an educator, and her
4 Classroom Ideas That Build Mathematical Acumen Through Spatial Skills
Mathematics is an area of study that carries with it intense emotions. Those who find success early and often, experience the ecstasy of a beautiful solution unfolding in their mind’s
Why a College Professor Should be Interested in the Science of Teaching and Learning
Author: Ed Cunliff, University of Central Oklahoma College professors like me are often hired for their content expertise. While I know my course material I also love what I teach,