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Many educators know the Danielson Framework by name, but struggle to see how it fits in real classrooms. Here, you’ll find practical, ready-to-use tools and guidance to make each component come alive. For educators ready to take the next step, our coaching provides hands-on support to bring the framework to life with your students.

Inside the Framework

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1A • Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
1E • Designing Coherent Instruction
2A • Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport
2D • Managing Student Behavior
3B • Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques
3C • Engaging Students in Learning
3D • Using Assessment in Instruction
4E • Growing and Developing Professionally​

DOWNLOAD: Our Quick Guide to Effective Teaching

In Conversation: Charlotte Danielson

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Hear directly from Charlotte Danielson on our Teaching Today podcast, as we unpack the Danielson Framework, explore its origins, and examine how it's being used today. 

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1a: ​Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy

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GET INSPIRED
​​​Using the Rigormeter
Thoughtfully design instruction that supports students at each stage of learning.

GO DEEPER 
​​Brain-Based Teaching
How understanding neuroscience can transform the way teachers support learning and student well-being.

TAKE ACTION
​​Design for Every Student
Use data and learning frameworks to design multiple pathways for students — and finally make differentiation work in your actual classroom.

 

1e: ​Designing Coherent Instruction

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GET INSPIRED
​Progressive Scaffolding Framework
A flexible four-stage path for moving students from supported practice to true independence, whether in a single lesson or across a full week.

GO DEEPER 
​Foundations First: Building Effective Units and Lessons
From unit planning to English language learners, this episode unpacks the building blocks of lessons that actually work.

TAKE ACTION
​A Blueprint for Better Teaching
From setting outcomes to sparking discussion, this course builds the planning foundation that makes every lesson more intentional.

 

2a: ​Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport

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GET INSPIRED
Affirming Diverse Identities
Tolerating diversity isn't the same as affirming it. Here's the difference — and what to do about it.

GO DEEPER 
Building Bridges Between Teachers & Students
What if curiosity was your most powerful teaching tool? Hunter Gehlbach on why intellectual humility changes everything.

TAKE ACTION
​Set the Tone for Success
Build the routines, rituals, and relationships that make your classroom a place where every student feels safe enough to take risks and learn.

 

2d: ​Managing Student Behavior

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GET INSPIRED
De-Escalating Conflicts
Three concrete moves for diffusing conflict, protecting relationships, and getting back to learning.

GO DEEPER  
Restoring Relationships
Traditional discipline doesn't resolve conflict — it just ends it. Rahul Patel shares what restorative justice actually looks like in New York City schools.

TAKE ACTION
Culture Is Your Best Behavior Plan
Build the structures that prevent conflicts before they start — and the relationships that help you navigate them when they do.

 

3b: ​Using Questioning & Discussion Techniques

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GET INSPIRED
Flipping the Script on Questioning
What if the question is the lesson? A coach's firsthand experience using the QFT to transform how teachers — and students — engage with learning.

GO DEEPER  
Sparking Student-Led Discussions
​Discussions don't just happen, they're built. Our coaches reflect on the invisible skills students need to participate meaningfully, and how to actually teach them.

TAKE ACTION
Make Every Voice Count
​Master seven discussion protocols — from paired talk to Socratic Seminar — and make sure every student has a voice in the room.

 

3c: ​Engaging Students in Learning

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GET INSPIRED
Scaffolding Accountable Group Work
​​Break away from the "I did all the work, and they did nothing" refrain.​

GO DEEPER   
What Motivates Students to Learn
​Dr. Tony Wagner on why intrinsic motivation beats grades — and what teachers can do tomorrow to spark it.

TAKE ACTION
​Learning That Goes Beyond the Lesson
Design real-world projects that give students a reason to show up, dig in, and produce something worth sharing.

 

3d: ​Using Assessment in Instruction

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GET INSPIRED
Mastering In-the-Moment Assessments
​​Promising practices for assessing and adjusting your instruction to meet students' needs. ​

GO DEEPER   
Stop Guessing, Start Assessing
​Teachers ask, we answer — on collecting student feedback, using formative data, and bridging classroom writing with high-stakes tests.

TAKE ACTION
Assessment Starts Before the Test
Learn to weave assessment into every part of your lesson so you're responding to what students actually need, not what you think they know.

 

4e: ​Growing and Developing Professionally

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GET INSPIRED
When Teacher Teams Actually Work
Strengthen your capacity for data-driven dialogue with a tool built for clarity and coherence.

GO DEEPER   
When Teachers Lead Teachers
​Our coaches reflect on the real challenges of stepping into teacher leadership — and what it takes to actually support and guide a team.

TAKE ACTION
Connect Practice and Pedagogy
Reflect on the critical incidents that have shaped your practice — and transform them into fuel for growth, leadership, and a teaching career that lasts.

From Evaluation to Growth

Great teaching is always a work in progress. Partner with a CPET coach to identify where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. Together, we'll:

• Get targeted feedback on specific components of your practice
• Work alongside a coach to try new strategies and reflect on what's working
• Connect the framework to your actual students and classroom, not just an evaluation rubric
• Build confidence in areas where you feel least supported

Start the conversation