Empowering Teachers with Evidence-Informed Strategies and Tools for Student Success.

Welcome! I’m Mrs. Haven, a dedicated 5th-grade science teacher passionate about sharing tools, techniques, and resources to inspire curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking in the classroom.

Evidence-Informed Teaching Strategies

What Are Evidence-Informed Education Strategies?
In education, evidence-based strategies are proven teaching techniques rooted in research and data. These methods enhance student learning, retention, and engagement by applying insights from cognitive science and classroom studies. By using strategies like retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving, and feedback-driven metacognition, educators can create impactful learning experiences that empower students to think critically and succeed in today’s dynamic world.

Explore these tools and resources to implement evidence-based practices in your own classroom with confidence.

Browse Resources

Upcoming Events

2025 ResearchED New York

SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH

A session called, "(Em)PoweringUp: When Research Drives Student Success"

Past Events

2025 THRIVING EDUCATORS SUMMIT

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH

A virtual session called "What to do with the Science of Learning Research."

Watch Replay Here

2024 ResearchED Delaware

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH

A session called, "Powerful Teaching. Powerful Learning. Powerful Classrooms."

And that’s how it’s done!
✅ start with spaced retrieval
✅ teach lesson with direct instruction and scaffolds
✅ end with a retrieval question to solidify comprehension
#educatorhaven #scienceoflearning #powerfulclassrooms #powerfulteaching #sol #teaching #teachersfollowteachers #evidenceinformedpractice #teachersofinstagram

Quickly paced lessons keep students engaged and content moving forward. Transitions make or break them.

In these 40 seconds, watch 8th grade students transition from a #6bricks challenge to #miniwhiteboards for quick #retrievalpractice

•materials need out and accessible (bins for Lego bricks are on the side of the desks, mini whiteboards are stacked and ready, and students have bags with dry erase markers and erasers hanging in bags from their tables).
•assign specific students to lead tasks (right end of table collects Legos while left end of table distributes mini whiteboards)

With transitions like these, we have effective and efficient class.

#educatorhaven #scienceoflearning #powerfulclassrooms #powerfulteaching #sol #teaching #teachersfollowteachers #evidenceinformedpractice #teachersfollowteachers #stemteacher #stemteachers #transitions #classroom #classroommanagement #classroomorganization

Need a STEM lesson? Want it to be evidence-informed and based on the science of learning?

Need: Duplo LEGO bricks, index cards (cut and labeled with arrows and simple commands), printed “Workspace” from this lesson.

QR Codes at the end of the reel give you full access to the lesson and the teacher script.

Concepts: Unplugged Coding, Coding, STEM, Playful Learning, Science of Learning

#educatorhaven #scienceoflearning #powerfulclassrooms #powerfulteaching #sol #teacher #teaching #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #evidenceinformedpractice #STEM #STEAM #coding #unpluggedcoding #playfullearning

#Scaffolding while teaching students how to code. Start with unplugged #coding. Build mazes w DUPLO #LEGOS. Ss write code to guide minifig through their maze.
Think they’ll be mad at me tomorrow when I #teach them the “loop” vocab term? 😂
#directinstruction #learning #sol #scienceoflearning #engage #handsonscience #stem #unpluggedcoding #teach #powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #educatorhaven

5th -8th graders learned about cantilevers today. Then they worked through the engineering design process to create their own! A little friendly competition to see the longest and highest cantilever between the grade levels never hurts!

This fit drips AND passes the vibe check, yall.

A classroom grouping system that blends structure with flexibility: less cognitive load for logistics, more working memory freed for the actual thinking.

📋 docs.google.com/presentation/d…

#routine #efficient #scienceoflearning #classroomnorm
#studentagency #sol #grouping #groupwork #shoulderpartners #thinkpairshare #partners #teacher #teacher #teachexpectations #powerful #powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #educator #educatorhaven

Using mini whiteboards in the classroom. Slides for teachers to explicitly guide students through the procedures.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1KuU5BKv05qBpUSJHWm6mtVNhQEANRY_SRB0r_WN3QFg/copy

#scienceoflearning #whiteboards #miniwhiteboards #mwb #teacher #learning #howtolearn #powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #educatorhaven #teachershelpteachers

Misconception: “STEM is just about hands-on projects — kids learn by doing.”

Truth: Doing is powerful, but without retrieval, spacing, and feedback, much of the learning fades.

Hands-on needs minds-on.

Instead of reaching all students, “learning styles” actually place kids into boxes and limit their ultimate potential.

#innerdrive #learningstyles #neuromyths #leftbrain #rightbrain #debunked #teacher #teaching #teachingstrategies #pedagogy #instruction #neuroscience #scienceoflearning #educatorhaven

“Be ready for class” is too general. Students enter your classroom with different experiences & backgrounds. Level the field for ALL learners by providing specific & explicit expectations. Practice the routine consistently.

More tips from @organizedbinder

🔗 A daily sheet sets up success. Get a copy here and in the linktree in my bio.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WY9otPobJ3WxPNIio0kCNZy1unuNhQlBQnOnMCesjfI/copy

#executivefunction #executivefunctioningskills #executivefunctioning #routine #predictable #success #student #teacher #teachersfollowteachers #bestpractice #scienceoflearning #sol #powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #educatorhaven

🎶 An 8-line “rap” I wrote a decade ago for my science students to differentiate between waxing and waning moon phases turned into a full song, and now I’m on Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes with @the.boogie.band singing with my son!

🌖 Use this song and rap to teach kids moon phases!

🔗 Link is in my linktree on my bio, or paste it from here!

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/theboogieband/peekaboo-with-the-moon-single

#sel #selmusic #learnthrougmusic #music #childrensmusic #childrensongs #moon #moonphases #peekaboo #socialemotionallearning #socialemotionaldevelopment

@innerdrive_edu provides high-res posters like this, along with so many resources for educators!! #clt #cognitivescience #cognitiveloadtheory #teach #teachwithpurpose #teacher #learning

Check out my school website here. I hope it inspires educators to “enter every room with their heart first.”

This is my very favorite quote from P!nk. “I enter every room with my heart first. I write every lyric with my heart first.”

🔗 link in bio https://sites.google.com/columbia4.org/mrs-haven-5th-grade/meet-the-teacher?authuser=0 Mrs. Haven: STEM 5th-8th Grade - Meet the Teacher

#teacherwebsite #teacher #teach #teaching #teachergram #teachersfollowingteachers #educatorhaven

Teachers: We HAVE to be aware of the science of learning. There is robust research showing how students learn. Tangible, practical strategies that lead to learning, comprehension, and retention. These methods are attainable. They are small shifts in your already-amazing pedagogy and delivery methods.

Education can be a science-based profession. Now that we know better, let’s do better. 💪

https://thenext30years.substack.com/p/jim-hewitt-and-nidhi-sachdeva-reframing

#studentsuccess #students #studentsupport #teachers #teaching #teacher #dobetterbebetter #mayaangelou #educator #educatorlife #scienceoflearning #powerfulteaching #powerfullearning #educatorhaven

If you read any article this weekend, let it be this one:
https://www.the74million.org/article/cognitive-science-all-the-rage-in-british-schools-fails-to-register-in-u-s/

🚨 Learning styles are a myth!!

#cognitivescience #learningscience #learningstyles #scienceoflearning #sol #teacher #teaching #students #neuromyth #evidencebased #informed #powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #educatorhaven

Reminder that using spelling words or key terms as classroom attention grabbers is a scientifically-proven way to boost student learning.

Add a beat, a tune, and/or a movement to your classroom content. Use that to get your students’ attention instead of the trending phrase.

You need students’ attention, so why not make your attention grabber intentional, purposeful, engaging, and evidence-informed?

What’s the science behind it?
Science of learning strategies used:
•retrieval
•spaced retrieval
•low-stakes assessment
•immediate feedback
•feedback-driven metacognition
•interleaving
•desirable difficulty
•cognitive load theory

#powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #scienceoflearning #sol #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #teachersofinstagram #teacher #evidenceinformedpractice #cognitiveloadtheory #educatorhaven #teacherhack #teacherhacks #student #studentengagement #class #classcallbacks

Involving students in the learning process isn’t complex. Taking moments to direct students to task while reading helps engagement, attention, comprehension, and motivation. Flip through these slides to see how you can teach using #explicitdirectinstruction which is a corner stone in the science of learning.

#directinstruction #learning #cognitivescience #scienceoflearning #teach #teacherfollowteacher #teachers #readingteacher #evidenceinformed #powerful #powerfulteaching #effective #engaging #powerfulclassroom #educatorhaven

👀 Spot the difference between the 4 vocab slides. (I know it’s tiny, zoom in to see closer!!).

How can you use this in your class to teach key terms and concepts?

Step 1: I Say, You Say while pointing to what you’re starting. Choral Read terms and definitions with students while pointing to the text.
Step 2: Read the definition and point to the icon, pause, direct students to Choral Respond with the term. Then, say the term to verify the correct answer.
Step 3: Choral Read each definition while pointing to the text. Instruct students to visualize the icon that matches the definition. Pause. Direct students to Choral Respond the term. Verify the correct answer.
Step 4: Tell students that the definitions are mixed up. Read each definition, pause. Direct students to visualize the matching icon, pause. Direct students to Choral Respond with the correct term. Verify the correct answer.

In 3-5 minutes, you have scaffolded, dual coded, and retrieved key terms and definitions You have directed students to engage 16-20 times. You have provided opportunities for desirable difficulty by mixing around the definitions and asking students to retrieve them.

👀 Teachers need to know this stuff!!

Read the article here 👇
https://open.substack.com/pub/scienceoflearning/p/beyond-belief-reframing-teaching?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
#teacher #teacherfollowteacher #teachwithpurpose #powerfulclassrooms #scienceoflearning #evidence #evidencenotfads #educatorhaven

An example of a Daily Sheet I use in my classes to provide an evidence-informed, research-backed, student-agency-building, predictable and effective routine. Photo 2 names the science of learning strategies that correlate with the different steps on the Daily Sheet.

#sol #scienceoflearning #teach #directinstruction #executivefunctioningskills #teacher #powerfulclassrooms #predictableroutines #student #teachersofinstagram #teaching #stem #classroom #backtoschool #backtoschoolessentials #teachingresources #educatorhaven

Playful Learning Conference at @maryvilleu July 30. Catch me in Breakout Session 2!

🔗 Register here: https://www.maryvilleca2.com/stemworkshop Playful Learning Workshop-July 30 | Maryville CA2

#educatorhaven #scienceoflearning #playfullearning #playmeetsscience #directinstruction #powerfulclassrooms #sol #stlouisteachers #stl #stlgram

🌟 Unlocking Student Success With A Predictable Entering Routine.

As teachers, we’ve all experienced the struggle of getting every student ready and engaged from the moment they step into the classroom. I used to start with a bellwork activity to activate prior knowledge, but despite my best efforts, not all students were consistently ready. This left me wondering: Why were some students always prepared while others struggled?

I realized that it wasn’t just about following instructions; it was about creating a supportive environment where every student felt equipped to succeed. Here’s what I learned:
1. Build Strong Connections: Relationship-building is key. When students feel valued and understood, they’re more motivated to engage. But connection alone isn’t enough.
2. Explicit Instructions & Practice: Break down what being “ready for class” actually means. It’s not just about having a notebook open. It’s about ensuring they have the right materials, are seated, and are mentally prepared.
3. Self-Reflection & Accountability: Provide opportunities for students to reflect on their readiness and hold them accountable with grades or incentives.

By implementing these steps, we can create a classroom environment where every student has the tools they need to start class successfully. It’s about setting them up for success from the moment they walk in the door.

🤔 what does “being ready” look like for your classroom?

#predictable #predictableroutine #studentreadiness #executive #executivefunction #entering #enteringroutine #bellwork #teacher #teachingroutines #studentagency #scienceoflearning #teacher #teach #teachemyoung #educatorhaven #powerfulclassrooms

“We often assume students should already know how to stay organized, manage their time, and start tasks independently—but these are skills that need to be taught, modeled, and practiced.” -Angela Watson

Listen to @angela.watson talk with @organizedbinder on the podcast here!
https://truthforteachers.com/truth-for-teachers-podcast/how-a-daily-binder-routine-teaches-students-the-skills-behind-academic-success/

#truthforteachers #truthforteacherspodcast
#educatorhaven

“This post is a one-stop shop for my Five Ways To series by Tom Sherrington and the superb one-page summaries produced by the wonderful David Goodwin. Download and share freely.”

BY TOM SHERRINGTON
July 1, 2022

https://teacherhead.com/2022/09/24/five-ways-to-the-booklet/

#engage #engagestudents #5waysto #scienceoflearning #evidenceinformed #sol #reading #readingcurriculum #checkforunderstanding #studentattention #scaffold #scaffolding #dialogue #buildconfidence #buildconfidenceinyourkids #studentagency #fluency #education #teacher #teacherstyle #teacherfollowteachers #teachergram #teacher #evidenceinformedteacher #educatorhaven

Grateful for the opportunity to learn, connect, and inspire alongside passionate educators worldwide. Excited to co-keynote this conference in Denver!
#researchED #denvermuseumofnatureandscience #educator #educatorempowerment #teacher #educatorhaven #powerfulclassrooms

I’ve started a project to show how the science of learning isn’t just theory—it can be applied directly in the classroom to elevate both student outcomes and teacher practice. Best of all, it aligns with (and exceeds) the expectations for a ‘Distinguished’ or ‘Excellent’ rating on the Danielson Framework for Teaching.

This post is just one of twenty-two sub-domains.

#scienceoflearning #evidence #research #teacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachergram #teacherevaluation #danielsonframework #evaluation #sol #classroom #classroomideas #powerfulwomen #powerfulclassrooms #educator #educatorhaven

It’s maddening!

Students don’t deserve a system that makes it nearly impossible for teachers to feel, let along be rated, “Excellent.”

I’m going to develop a series that correlates evidence-informed teaching, based on the science of learning, while highlighting some activities and the Domains they address on the Danielson Educator evaluation tool. #educatorhaven
#teacherevaluation #studentsdeservebetter #teachersdeservebetter #teachersfollowteachers #teachers #teach

STE(A)M teachers need this book on your desk!! #Stem #StemEducation #stemteacher #stemteachers #innovation #nextgeneration #learners #teacher

I love this image. #OliCav visually represents the intake of and transfer of knowledge from working memory to long term memory. #SpacedRetrievalPractice brings the stored information from long term memory back to working memory. Every time information is #Retrieved, the path that accesses the information in LTM is easier to follow and therefor easier to bring forward to WM. #SpacedRetrieval is vital for the success of our learners.

#ltm #wm #longtermmemory #workingmemory #workingmemorytraining #scienceoflearning #cognitivescience #powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #powerful #educatorhaven

I’m thinking of tucking little mouse holes (stickers) around my new STEM classroom. This cute lil graphic solidified those thoughts. Be on the lookout for EducatorHaven mouse hunts 🤭
#classroomculture #relationship #teacherstudent #educatorhaven

Curiosity is the crossroads of creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, which mold and fold into each other through every iteration of an idea.
#stem #stemlearning #steam #steamlearning #play #4cs #5c #5cs #communication #collaboration #criticalthinking #creativity #curiosity #educatorhaven #powerfulclassroom

Follow this recipe for powerful student engagement.
#scienceoflearning #teaching #teacher #evidenceinformed #scienceteachers #science #informed #recipe #recipeforsuccess #powerful #powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #educatorhaven

5th graders are so clever! This student gifted me a Newton’s Cradle…and made this card to go with it 😆😆💯
#science #scienceteacher #scienceteachersofinstagram #scienceteachers #5thgrade #sciencepuns #sciencejokes #iykyk😂 #educatorhaven

HeHeHe
#sciencejokes #scienceteacher #scienceteachers #scienceteachersofinstagram #5thgrade #5thgradeteacher #educatorhaven #sciencepuns

Featured educator on The Learning Scientists blog!
Copy the link below and paste into your internet browser.
OR- check out the blog post on my LinkTree in my bio!

🔗 https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2025/1/30-1

#scienceoflearning #evidencebasedpractice #powerfulclassrooms #educatorhaven #learningscientist #sol

How to fine tune your instruction into high quality instruction that’s based on the science of how kids learn. @mrzachg is one of the BEST! Give his podcast a 👂
https://educationrickshaw.com/2025/05/15/the-direct-instruction-podcast-and-conference/

#scienceoflearning #sol #evidence #evidenceinformed #evidenceinformedteaching #powerfulteacher #research #researchanddevelopment #educatorhaven

Teacher with a hobby!! 🎵 Teaching social skills, executive functioning, emotional regulation, conservation and more! Today’s show inspired me to have a rock cycle song ready for the next show! Follow The Boogie Band on Facebook & YT, @the.boogie.band on Insta #sel #childrensmusic #music #teach #teachthroughmusic #executivefunctioning #socialemotionaldevelopment #teacherhobby #musicians #puppets #educatorhaven

Turn flashcards into a matching game!
1. Use a metacognition guide instead of a study guide. Check out an example in the video!
2. Write terms and definitions on different cards (not front/back like traditional flashcards)
3. Play a matching game! Make it a competition, play with multiple friends/classmates, or play solo!

#scienceoflearning #metacognition #powerfulteaching #sol #powerfulclassrooms #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #evidenceinformedpractice #educatorhaven #retrievalpractice

Dress like a student day in 2025!
Braids ✅
Earring posts ✅
Tall socks ✅
Crocs ✅
Smart watch on school mode ✅
Owala ✅
CHICKEN JOCKEY ✅
6 7 ✅

#chickenjockey #howtodresslikeamiddleschooler #middleschool #67 #educatorhaven #buildingrelationships #cringe

Todd Whitaker speaks the truth I strive to tell ❤️

End of the year blues hitting your classroom?? Try this and follow me for more teacher tricks 🤣
#educatorhaven #endofyearteacher #studentattitude #engagingstudents #teachers #teaching #teachersofig #teacherhack #teachersfollowteachers

When sweet students make you a sign on their own time and bring it to you with huge grins in their faces…
…and your heart grows and your stomach flutters, and you know that this sign is actually an indication that these students feel safe, seen, and supported.
Each item on this page has been spaced and retrieved all year long. Through spaced retrieval questions at the start of class to interleaved content to continuous chiral responses and class callbacks…these complex concepts and terms have been mastered by 10 year olds!!
#scienceoflearning #powerfulclassrooms #educatorhaven

1. Start class with spaced retrieval.
2. Use Direct Instruction for complex topics, scaffold instruction, guide students towards expertise.
3. End class with daily retrieval to solidify the day’s content.
👁️ See ideas ➡️
#scienceoflearning
#powerfulclassrooms
#evidenceinformed #evidenceinformedteaching #researchbased #researchinformedteaching #teachersofinstagram #teaching #powerfulteaching #educatorhaven

The student in the blue hoodie in the top right of this photo started as a novice. He is now an expert. Let me explain.

My classroom participated in a field research project funded by the National Science Foundation, and organized by Maryville University and Tufts University. My students learned how to program data points into smart motors from scratch. Eventually, they constructed models that related to our classroom content.

Today, my students taught their peers from other classes how to program data and design simple builds using the motors.

How did they go from novice to expert?
Through direct instruction with immediate feedback, through weekly spaced practice, and through interleaving content concepts into the designs.

Take one step at a time, scaffold those complex ideas. Provide explicit, direct instruction, and students will grow.

#novice #expert #science #stem #nsf #nsfstories #smartmotors #machinelearning #directinstruction #scaffolding #scienceoflearning #educatorhaven

Do you ever have a student who doesn’t want to participate in activities…not even the super fun ones?? Me too.

Today was a WIN! It took getting slapped in the face with a paper hand, but I’ll take it!

This student was slouched, head down, having a rough morning, not wanting to participate in our machine learning lesson. I told him, if he makes a programmed, slapping machine, then he could slap my face with it.
Lo and behold, said student got to work! By the end of class, he had designed, built, programmed, and improved a slapping machine.

#teacherwin #machinelearning #stem #stemeducation #stemed #stemeducationforkids #sel #socialemotionallearning #tlc #teacher #teacherfollowteacher #teachersofthegram #educatorhaven #smartmotors

My 4-Step Class Structure:
1. Opening Routine
2. Spaced Retrieval
3. Instruction (direct, scaffolded, always guiding novices—>experts)
4. Daily Retrieval
@mitchweathers inspired my predictable classroom structure, which is purposefully designed to set students up for success.

#scienceoflearning #scienceoflearning #powerfulteaching #powerfulclassrooms #sol #teachersfollowteachers #teaching #retrievalpractice #teachersofinstagram #educatorhaven #executivefunction #executivefunctioning #evidenceinformedteaching

I give myself a uniform so that it’s easier to choose outfits in the mornings. Mondays are “Business Mondays,” so I will wear a suit of some kind. Today, my suit was twinning with one of our sweet 5th graders! 💕

Creating my uniform freed up working memory space for myself. In case you’re interested, here’s the uniform schedule:
•Business Mondays (suit/suit jacket)
•Graphic Tee Tuesdays (spruce up a teacher t-shirt with skirts and boots)
•Wild Wednesdays (animal print)
•Flirty Thursdays or Sweather Thursdays depending on the season (flirty-floral, ruffles)
•Casual Friday (school colors, school mascot)

Having my uniform days makes my closet organized, and it helps me from over shopping. “This top is sooooo cute, but it doesn’t meet any of my themes…oh well.”

It may seem like a silly shift for some, but for me? My weekly uniform is Magic. I live in a state of cognitive overload. Whenever I can free up space in my working memory, I’m on it!

Do you have a teacher-uniform that you wear?

#cognitiveload #cognitive #cognitiveloadtheory #workingmemory #educator #teacherfashion #teachingoutfit #teacheroutfits #teacheruniform #makemylifeeasier #shopping #educatorhaven #scienceoflearning #sol

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Continuous Learning and Growth

EducatorHaven.com is dedicated to equipping educators with evidence-informed teaching strategies and resources. Our carefully curated collection of tools and techniques align with our commitment to fostering meaningful student engagement and supporting fellow educators.