Purpose

The purpose of this section is to explore resources and application of Goodwin and Hubbell's "The 12 Touchstones of Good Teaching - A Checklist for Staying Focused Every Day". Throughout the pages here you will find helpful resources, reflections, and an applied example of how these touchstones have impacted a single student, Ethan Simpson, through several weeks of online SAT test-prep classes. Relevant quotes from research and texts are included for each item to help explain the touchstone's purpose and application. 

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The text this project is based on was created as a "Do-Confirm" checklist with the intention of bringing awareness to steps to create supportive, encouraging, and rigorous learning environments. While these are "Touchstones", they are referred to as Items throughout the book, so I will be using both to reference the action of the checklist. 

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Each touchstone applies a specific way to "Be Demanding", "Be Supportive", and "Be Intentional" in an educator's day-to-day classroom management. They include specific ways to incorporate the students' goals and interests into the classroom, as well as ensure engagement, classroom safety and expectations, and lesson rigor. The goal is for an educator to utilize these touchstones and resources to ensure that every class and every student has a scaffold to acquire persistent, applicable knowledge through curiosity and support.