Why should a school or teacher consider the Lab Classroom approach to teaching?

• The Lab Classroom school receives much needed support from EBEC.
• EBEC also provides the Lab Classroom principal, coach, and teacher with focused professional development related to best practice in teaching and learning.
• Students achievement will increase
• Lab Classrooms establish a strong foundation for building Professional Learning Communities within the school
• Lab Classrooms cultivate a network of collaboration within and across districts

History of Lab Classrooms in the East Bay

• April-May 2003: EBEC Literacy Team visits Denver Lab Classrooms to explore thinking strategies used by proficient learners
• 2003-2004: Designed EBEC Coaches training around the thinking strategies.
• 2003-2004: Designed four part leadership series around the thinking strategies
• April 2004: Return to Denver and PEBC to refine our own Lab Classroom network.
• June 2004: Present preliminary Lab Classroom proposal to Superintendents of the East Bay.
• 2004-2005: Created and support EBEC Lab Classroom network of 35 classrooms most at the elementary level with some middle school.
• 2004-2005: Four part leadership series focused on supporting Lab Classroom model and visitation.
• January 2005: Ellin Oliver Keene provides kick-off workshop for Lab Classroom network.
• Early spring 2005 : Lab Classroom coaches and teachers visit each other.
• Spring 2005: 29 Lab Classroom opened for 250 visitors including 60 principals or aspiring principals
• Fall 2005: Opened first high school Lab Classrooms
• 2005-2006: Expanded Lab Classroom model to middle and high school with more on-site support
• 2005-2006: Provided deeper level of support for coaches on thinking strategies
• April 2006: Return to Denver and PEBC to focus on secondary content Lab Classrooms and leadership support
• April-June 2006: Reconfigured secondary Lab Classroom model to provide on-site EBEC Coaching and instructional leadership development
  
• September 2006 – June 2007:   Adding additional Lab Classrooms in East Bay Middle and High Schools:  in Mathematics, ELA, Science and Social Studies (as well as other content areas with teachers who volunteer).