Teachers communicate clearly and purposefully regarding instructions and expectations. More than that, though, teachers also communicate the purpose for the learning. The content itself must be presented in a way that students can track with. Teachers keep students engaged by chunking material into amounts that they can process, and relating the material back to why it is important. Effective teachers also explain what it will look like when students are successful. Finally, teachers use appropriate, accurate academic language when presenting content, although they infuse imagination into the lesson as well. 

Teachers engage students in the exploration of content and deepen student understanding through the use of questioning and discussion. Discussion questions have multiple possible answers and provide an opportunity for students to respond to one another and share their perspectives. Skillful teachers invite students to form hypotheses where it is more important to think hard about the answer than to remember a "right" answer.  In a respectful, affirming learning environment, students will feel safe to share their thoughts. Teachers make sure everyone has an opportunity to participate. 

Learning requires students' active and intellectual engagement in the learning experiences. Students are developing their understanding through rich learning experiences, collaboration and teamwork, thinking and reflection. Teachers encourage students' curiosity and support them to take responsibility for their own learning. Successful teachers provide multiple ways for students to engage with the content and have a discernible structure with reflection built in. Teachers ask students to identify what the important concepts were in the lesson. To observe when this component is present, it is simpler to observe the students: are they self- motivated, do they have curiosity beyond just what they are required to do, do they voluntarily help one another, do they seek deeper meaning and understanding from the content? Whereas it can be hard to identify exactly what a teacher did to make that happen. 

Successful teachers are constantly monitoring student progress. Assessment for learning provides essential feedback to students and teachers on successes and challenges. Successful opportunities to assess learning, no matter the form, allow teachers to determine the degree of understanding of every student in the class. Another important aspect of assessment for learning involves students monitoring their own learning against clear standards and goals established collaboratively by both teacher and students. 

Teachers adapt their plans to fit the circumstances. This includes taking advantage of opportunities and teachable moments. It also means looking at the results of assessments for learning and if students didn't learn, trying a new method or giving more practice. Successful teachers are particularly skilled in making adjustments during the course of learning experiences in response to changing conditions. Teachers, at the same time, are modelling to students having a flexible mindset and effectively dealing with setbacks or new opportunities. Committed teachers don't give up easily, and they demonstrate to their students that with determination, they can learn. A learning experience, even one that goes according to plan, will include moments of struggle, and the adjustments that students and teachers make during those times will further their success.