29 Best Practices Video

A deeper understanding of the 29 Best Practices that support the

academic and linguistic development for ALL students!

Best Practice #1

Learner Centered Classroom

A Learner-Centered Classroom places students at the heart of instruction. This best practice emphasizes active engagement, meaningful collaboration, and student ownership of learning. The teacher serves as a facilitator who guides inquiry, promotes critical thinking, and fosters a supportive environment where all students feel empowered to succeed.

Best Practice #2

Teaching to the Top 25%

Teaching to the Top 25% challenges educators to set high expectations and design instruction that pushes all students to think critically and go deeper in their learning. By planning with the most advanced learners in mind, teachers raise the level of rigor and create a learning environment where every student is inspired to reach their fullest potential through enrichment, extension, and higher-order thinking opportunities.

Best Practice #3

Extensive use of Collaborative Grouping

Extensive use of collaborative grouping promotes active student engagement, peer-to-peer learning, and meaningful academic dialogue. This best practice encourages students to work together to solve problems, share ideas, and deepen understanding through structured, purposeful interaction. By learning in diverse groups, students build communication skills, develop empathy, and benefit from varied perspectives—creating a dynamic, inclusive classroom environment where every voice is valued.

Best Practice #4

Providing Grade Level Instruction to ALL students ALL the Time

This best practice is grounded in the belief that every student deserves access to rigorous, grade-level content—regardless of language proficiency, learning differences, or academic background. By maintaining high expectations and using strategic supports like scaffolding, visuals, and differentiated instruction, educators ensure that all learners engage with core standards. This approach promotes equity, accelerates learning, and closes opportunity gaps by refusing to lower the bar for any student.

Best Practice #5

When Limited by TEKS, Curriculum, or Textbook, Depart to a Higher Expectation

This best practice encourages educators to go beyond the minimum requirements of standards, curriculum guides, or textbooks. When instructional materials fall short of promoting critical thinking or deep understanding, teachers are empowered to elevate instruction by enriching content, integrating real-world connections, and fostering higher-order thinking. The goal is to challenge students to exceed basic expectations and engage in meaningful, rigorous learning that prepares them for future academic and life success.

Best Practice #6

Planned Lessons Results in Challenging, Interactive, & Authentic Instruction

Best Practice #7

The Teacher is Primarily a Facilitator vs the Teacher

In a learner-centered environment, the teacher shifts from being the sole source of knowledge to a facilitator of learning. This best practice emphasizes guiding, supporting, and challenging students as they take ownership of their academic journey. Rather than lecturing, the teacher designs meaningful experiences, poses thought-provoking questions, and creates opportunities for exploration and collaboration. The result is a dynamic classroom where students are active participants, critical thinkers, and self-directed learners.

Best Practice #8

Direct Teaching Limited to
15-20 min at a Time

This best practice recognizes that students learn best in short, focused bursts of instruction. Limiting direct teaching to 15–20 minutes allows teachers to deliver essential content efficiently while maintaining student engagement and attention. After the mini-lesson, students transition into active learning through hands-on practice, collaborative, paired activity. This approach maximizes time, keeps learners involved, and supports deeper understanding through interaction and exploration.

Best Practice #9

Students are “Bathed” with Language during Instruction and Classroom Environment

This best practice emphasizes the intentional and immersive use of vocabulary throughout instruction and the classroom setting. Students are continuously exposed to rich, academic, and content-specific vocabulary through teacher modeling, visual supports, student interaction, and environmental print. Whether speaking, listening, reading, or writing, vocabulary is woven into every aspect of the learning experience—supporting comprehension, expression, and the development of strong linguistic skills essential for academic success.

Best Practice #10

Robust Vocabulary Development Through Classroom Labels, Student Generated Alphabets, Word Walls, & Content Boards

This best practice supports intentional vocabulary development by immersing students in a print-rich environment where words are constantly visible, meaningful, and connected to content. Through tools like classroom labels, student-generated alphabets, word walls, and content boards, students engage with language daily. These visual and interactive elements reinforce academic vocabulary, foster ownership of language learning, and promote consistent language use across all subjects—enhancing both comprehension and expression.

Best Practice #11

ALL Instruction is Sheltered Through Visuals, Objects, & Hands-in Learningeacher is Primarily a Facilitator vs the Teacher

This best practice ensures that instruction is accessible and meaningful for all learners, particularly Emergent Bilinguals and students with diverse learning needs. By incorporating visuals, real objects (realia), and hands-on learning experiences, teachers create multiple entry points for understanding. Sheltering instruction in this way bridges language gaps, supports comprehension, and actively engages students—making abstract concepts more concrete and fostering deeper, long-term learning.

Best Practice #12

Lessons are interesting, meaningful, culturally relevant, and related to real life

This best practice centers on creating learning experiences that resonate with students’ lives, backgrounds, and interests. When lessons are culturally relevant and connected to real-world contexts, students are more engaged, motivated, and able to see the value of what they’re learning. By honoring students’ identities and making content meaningful and applicable, educators foster deeper understanding, boost academic achievement, and build a classroom culture of respect and inclusion.

Best Practice #13

Teacher Frequently Reminds Students to Use Language of Instruction During Content Learning

This best practice reinforces academic language development by encouraging consistent use of the designated language of instruction throughout the lesson. Whether the focus is on English or the partner language in a dual language setting, the teacher models and prompts students to express their thinking using appropriate academic vocabulary and sentence structures. These reminders help build linguistic confidence, strengthen content understanding, and ensure students are developing proficiency in both conversational and academic language.

Best Practice #14

Teacher Asks Students to Use Complete Sentences When Responding

This best practice supports language development and academic communication by requiring students to respond in complete sentences. By consistently modeling and expecting full sentence responses, teachers help students strengthen grammar, vocabulary, and clarity of thought. It also promotes the use of academic language and prepares students for more advanced oral and written expression—fostering confidence and fluency across all content areas.

Best Practice #15

Second Year DLE Students Connect Free Writing to Full Page in Math, Sci, & SS Everyday

This best practice promotes language development and academic integration by encouraging second-year dual language students to engage in daily extended writing across core content areas. By connecting free writing to math, science, and social studies, students deepen their understanding, build academic vocabulary, and strengthen their ability to express complex ideas in the language of instruction. This consistent practice supports both content mastery and linguistic growth, reinforcing the power of writing as a tool for learning.

Best Practice #16

Extensive Use of Bilingual Pairs/Cooperative Groups Everyday

This best practice leverages the power of peer interaction by incorporating bilingual pairs and cooperative groups into daily instruction. Through intentional pairing and grouping, students collaborate, discuss content, and support each other’s language development in both languages. These structured interactions provide opportunities for academic dialogue, peer modeling, and mutual support—enhancing comprehension, boosting confidence, and fostering a positive, inclusive learning environment where all students thrive.

Best Practice #17

Pairing Students H /M and M / L

This best practice promotes equitable learning through intentional student pairing that maximizes peer support and collaboration. By pairing high-achieving students with medium-high peers and medium-low students with those at similar levels, teachers create balanced partnerships that encourage academic growth and shared responsibility. This strategic approach fosters meaningful interaction, builds confidence, and ensures that all students have the opportunity to contribute, learn, and succeed within a supportive learning community.

Best Practice #18

Students Asked to Share What Their Partner Said in Pair/Share Opportunities

This best practice deepens listening, accountability, and comprehension by requiring students to actively listen and accurately restate their partner’s thoughts during pair/share activities. Rather than simply sharing their own ideas, students practice respectful listening and paraphrasing—essential skills for academic dialogue and collaboration. This strategy reinforces content understanding, strengthens communication skills, and builds a classroom culture where every voice is valued and heard.

Best Practice #19

Students Asked To Explain Rationale for Their Answer Derived From Pair-Share Activities

This best practice encourages critical thinking and metacognition by having students not only share their answers, but also explain the reasoning behind them—especially after engaging in pair-share discussions. By articulating the "why" behind their responses, students deepen their understanding, practice academic language, and learn to justify their thinking. This approach strengthens analytical skills and fosters a collaborative classroom culture where reasoning and reflection are essential parts of learning.

Best Practice #20

Students provide "guided-practice" to each other (through pairs)

This best practice reinforces the idea that students can be powerful teachers for one another. By engaging in paired activities where they model, explain, and guide each other through tasks, students deepen their own understanding while supporting their partner’s learning. This reciprocal teaching approach encourages collaboration, strengthens communication skills, and fosters a sense of shared responsibility for academic success within the classroom community.

Best Practice #21

Teacher Does Not Answer Questions During Paired/Guided Practice Activities

This best practice empowers students to rely on their peers and their own reasoning during paired or guided practice rather than immediately turning to the teacher for answers. By stepping back, the teacher fosters student independence, encourages collaborative problem-solving, and promotes deeper engagement with the content. This approach builds confidence, accountability, and critical thinking skills, helping students take ownership of their learning and develop as self-directed learners.

Best Practice #22

Students are not finished with their paired activity until the partner/s are all finished

This best practice promotes collaboration, accountability, and mutual support by ensuring that students work at a shared pace during paired activities. Rather than rushing to finish individually, students are encouraged to assist and encourage their partners until everyone completes the task. This approach fosters teamwork, reinforces peer teaching, and cultivates a learning environment where success is a collective goal, not just an individual one.

Best Practice #23

Students Generated Work (e.g. blank paper, fold-ables); no worksheets or ditto sheets

This best practice emphasizes creativity, ownership, and active engagement by encouraging students to create their own learning materials rather than relying on pre-made worksheets. Using tools like a blank paper or graphic organizers, students construct meaning, organize information, and demonstrate understanding in personalized ways. This hands-on approach promotes deeper learning, supports differentiated instruction, and makes learning more meaningful and memorable for all students.

Best Practice #24

First-Year DLE Benchmark (100% of PK-K class able to read and write 1 complete sentence in L1)

This best practice sets a clear and attainable benchmark for early dual language learners, ensuring foundational literacy development in their native language. By the end of the first year, all Pre-K students should be able to create write one complete sentence. Kindergarten students should be able to write a full page in their native language and half a page in their second language. This milestone supports language confidence, reinforces sentence structure, and lays the groundwork for biliteracy by building essential skills that will transfer to the second language over time.

Best Practice #25

Two-Year Benchmark (100% of class reading and writing on grade level in L1)

This best practice establishes a powerful goal for dual language programs: by the end of the second year, all students should be reading and writing on grade level in their first language (L1). Achieving this benchmark ensures a strong academic foundation, promotes confidence in literacy skills, and provides the cognitive and linguistic readiness needed for successful transfer to the second language (L2). It reinforces the importance of maintaining and strengthening L1 to support full biliteracy development.

Best Practice #26

Utilize Math, Science, and Social Studies DL Lesson cycle (includes two-student to student (paired) activities [1 at the comprehension; 1 at the application level (Blooms)]

This best practice emphasizes the intentional use of a content-specific dual language lesson cycle that integrates both language development and academic rigor. Within this cycle, students engage in two structured paired activities—one targeting comprehension and the other focused on application or higher, aligned to Bloom’s Taxonomy. This approach ensures that students not only understand key concepts but also apply their knowledge in meaningful, collaborative ways, supporting both cognitive growth and biliteracy across content areas.

Best Practice #27

Utilize the Language Arts DL Lesson Plan Cycle with Reduced Guided Reading

This best practice encourages the use of a structured Language Arts Dual Language lesson cycle that integrates reading, writing, listening, and speaking in both languages. By strategically reducing the time spent on guided reading and shifting toward more student-centered, integrated literacy activities, teachers create space for rich, cross-linguistic connections. This approach supports authentic language development, promotes balanced biliteracy, and ensures that all students engage in meaningful, purposeful literacy experiences across both languages.

Best Practice #28

Teachers Utilize Conceptual Refinement (CR) from PK-5th

This best practice involves the intentional revisiting of content with a targeted focus on the academic concepts the student did not understand during the lesson or paired activity through 15 minutes of Conceptual Refinement (CR) the end of each lesson cycle.

Best Practice #29

Increase Use of Project-Based Learning and/or Inquiry-Based Instruction

This best practice promotes deeper learning by engaging students in meaningful, hands-on experiences that require critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. Through project-based and inquiry-based instruction, students explore real-world questions and challenges, take ownership of their learning, and connect academic content to their lives. These approaches foster curiosity, creativity, and academic rigor while building essential skills such as research, communication, and reflection across all grade levels and content areas.