Teaching & Learning Best Practices Spotlight: Bebe Cline

Upon visiting Bebe Cline’s fifth-grade classroom, one may find her perusing cluster groups in search of awesome ideas or engaging opportunities to share with others. Her approach to teaching is skills-oriented while emphasizing face-to-face instruction. She differentiates material by carefully chunking lessons into small units and deliberately teaching those concepts.

Because of her passion, her technique is one in which students flourish. She teaches them HOW to learn in a way that is meaningful and relevant. Through listening, questioning, and responding to students’ needs, she brings a flexibility and fluidity to her lessons that allow for differentiation. She gently pushes her students to excel, while at the same time, respecting each one as a unique learner.

As she and I co-teach, I have been able to experience the “a-ha” moment first hand when a struggling student learns how to multiply his fractions. He then is given the opportunity to lead the group. Isn’t that what a mighty teacher offers... the opportunity to soar and to take others along on the ride?

To quote this phenomenal teacher, “Just teach.”