Building Supportive Learning Environments Through Instructional Practice (Webinar)

On Tuesday, August 18, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET, join the National Academy of Education and the Southern Center for Opportunity and Access (formerly Equity Assistance Center-South) at the Southern Education Foundation to better understand how to use research-informed classroom practices to create learning environments that support belonging and deep learning.

Too often, schools and educators are expected to improve student outcomes without a shared understanding of the conditions that shape how students learn. This session brings together leading research and classroom perspectives to explore the instructional practices that foster belonging, engagement, and deeper learning for all students. 

Featuring Megan Franke and H. Richard Milner IV alongside two educators, this conversation will bridge research and practice by highlighting research-informed instructional practices and the everyday teaching moves that make supportive learning environments visible in classrooms. Panelists will share practical, evidence-based ideas for building meaningful relationships, cultivating inclusive classroom communities, and creating learning experiences that support student engagement.

Participants will leave with:

• research-informed ideas for fostering belonging, engagement, and deeper learning;
• a stronger understanding of how students experience learning environments;
• a shared language for discussing belonging, development, motivation, and the conditions that support deeper learning; and 
• practical strategies for strengthening supportive learning conditions in classrooms and schools. 

Continue the Conversation

• This is the second webinar in a three-part series on building safe and supportive learning environments for all students. While each webinar stands on its own, if you missed Webinar 1, “Foundations of Safe and Supportive Learning Environments,” you can watch it here. 
• Mark your calendars for September 17, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET, for Webinar 3, featuring Cynthia Coburn and Carla O’Connor, who will explore the policies and systems that foster supportive learning environments. 

Register today to join researchers and practitioners in a timely conversation about what it takes to create learning environments where every student can thrive. Speakers include:

• Jennifer Banks, Director of Instruction, Washtenaw Intermediate School District, Ann Arbor, MI 
• Megan Franke, Vice Chair of Professional Programs; Professor, UCLA School of Education & Information Studies, Los Angeles, CA
• H. Richard Milner IV, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Education and Sociology; Founding Director, Research in Education Applied to Development of Youth (READY) Lab, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
• Micah Pate, Principal, Cooper Lane Elementary, Landover, MD; National Academy of Education
• Eshé Collins, Director,Southern Center for Opportunity and Access