A practical guide for teachers
Cognitive Science
Companion
Amplifying today’s classrooms with principles of cognitive science
How students learn, and what it means for the practices teachers already value: inquiry, assessment for learning and competency-based curricula. Clear explanations, real classroom examples, and pull-out practice guides you can use tomorrow.
The book
We know more than ever about how learning happens
This book isn’t a case for or against any particular practice. It explains the active ingredients of effective teaching, so you can look at your own practices, whatever they are, and judge for yourself whether they line up.
Practical first
Each chapter starts from real classrooms and ends with a plan you can try next week. The research supports the strategies without taking over the page.
Research you can check
Claims are cited as you read, every chapter closes with a short Dig Deeper list of key studies, and a full reference list sits at the back.
Built for busy teachers
Margin notes, discussion questions for staff or book clubs, and one-page practice guides that pull out for planning and sharing with colleagues.
Inside the book
Six practices, built on how memory works
Each practice comes with a planning cue: one question to ask yourself as you plan tomorrow’s lesson.
We don’t think about knowledge; we think with knowledge.From Chapter 2, Be Knowledge Focused
Made to be used
More than a book to read once
Pull-out practice guides
One page per strategy: the key ideas and classroom moves, ready to photocopy for planning or staff meetings.
Student guides
Effective study habits and the power of attention, written for students.
Planning cues page
All six planning questions on one page to keep beside your plan book.
From reading to doing
Every chapter ends with a simple when-then plan, so one idea becomes a habit.
Order
Copies for you, your staff or your district
- Individual copies and bulk orders for staffs, book clubs and districts
- Pairs well with a workshop or a school-year partnership
- Also coming to Amazon
Speaking and workshops
Professional learning for schools, districts and conferences
Sessions built on the book and designed the way it recommends: clear explanations, worked examples and time to plan for your own classroom.
Keynotes
How learning works and what it means for teaching, for conferences and district days.
Workshops
Staff learn a strategy, see it modelled and adapt it for their own lessons.
School partnerships
A launch session, book study with the practice guides, and follow-up to help new habits stick.
About the author
Neil Stephenson
Neil Stephenson is Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Delta School District in British Columbia, with more than 20 years in education in roles from classroom teacher up. He is a recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History and the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence.
A longtime speaker and workshop leader, Neil helps teachers connect the science of learning with the practices they already value, and writes a series of practical guides for classroom teachers.
Contact
Book a session or say hello
For speaking, workshops, school partnerships and bulk orders, use the form above or email: