Training Teachers in the Craft of Teaching
A Comprehensive Teacher Development Program for Mission Driven Schools
Many new teachers are great mission-fits but struggle in the classroom
Why? They lack the know-how and tools of their trade. The result: new teachers burn out at a rate of 50% over three years - often due to lack of structured training and support.
The good news is that teaching is a craft, and it can be taught.
But most schools struggle to provide the support teachers need - and for good reason. Supporting teachers requires wide-ranging expertise, multiple courses, and the bandwidth to deliver them. It also requires a school culture of feedback and mentoring that is structurally difficult to create.
Many schools outsource teacher training by requiring a Master’s of Education. However, this (a) limits the pool of teacher candidates, (b) is often a waste of time, and (c) is still insufficient: teachers continue to need support.
A Comprehensive Solution
The Northridge Institute provides a multi-year program for developing new teachers (and anyone who wants to burnish his craft) that includes:
Training - multiple courses that progressively build on and reinforce each other
Tools - a complete suite of teaching tools and resources
Mentoring - an essential but oft overlooked component
Over two years in our program, novice teachers progress into competent teachers, well on their way to becoming transformational ones.
Our program is subject (content) agnostic.
Schools can adopt the program in two ways. They can either:
Send their teachers to classes run by the Institute (to a single course or the full sequence), or,
Adopt and run the program on their own (more culturally effective - and more cost effective - long term).
Offerings for Teachers
Teaching
Foundations
Our foundational offering, “Teaching Foundations”, is a 1-week summer workshop designed to equip new teachers to have a successful first year. Many veteran teachers have also used it to polish their craft.
Moving
Toward Mastery
Next, teachers continue with the remote “Moving Toward Mastery” course that expands upon and consolidates the learnings from the “Teaching Foundations” workshop.
Individual
Mentoring
Mentoring is essential for the rapid growth required of a new teacher - not to mention the encouragement they will need. Remote mentoring based on video-recorded classes works phenomenally well.
Offerings for Schools
Full Teacher Development Program
Under development are courses to aid veteran teachers to become mentors to other teachers, and for master teachers to teach this entire program “in house”.
Recent Feedback
98% of participants said they would recommend to a colleague (2% said probably!)
“The Northridge Institute did more than introduce their philosophy on education. It gave me real, tangible resources that I can institute in my classroom to raise both the academic achievement and the character formation of the students I teach.”
Recent Participant
“Well done! It was a perfect platform for my teachers to continue their learning and begin applying during the back-to-school prep. I thought the structure of the events and planning was very well thought out, including the amount of sit/get, versus breaks, versus apply, etc. Speakers were top-notch! I look forward to networking further and bringing another crew next year.”
Recent Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
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Mission-oriented schools who value the Liberal Arts
Alignment of purpose ensures attendees benefit from the Northridge Institute.
The Northridge Institute is for schools and teachers who:
Hold traditional Judeo-Christian values (we’re neutral on faith, explicit on values)
Explicitly aim to build character in their students (a “mission-oriented” school)
Value the holistic education of the Liberal Arts (which does include math, science and engineering, all of which we value highly)
Parochial schools, Classical academies, Evangelical schools, Charter schools, and independent day schools are all welcome.
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We believe in balancing formal instruction (lecture) with student participation. While Progressive education fails by prioritizing active learning over traditional curriculum, we believe many traditional schools disregard active learning to their detriment. We teach our teachers how to have an active and engaged classroom founded in a traditional liberal arts framework. Our approach balances engagement with order, freedom with rigor, tradition with creativity.’
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The course is designed for new teachers.
Veteran teachers are also welcome, and many have found it helpful in providing a framework and explanation for the many learnings and practices they have already developed through experience.
Many school leaders have also attended, in order to build a shared framework of understanding with their teachers.
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A decade ago Northridge Preparatory School was growing, hiring many new teachers, and struggling to support them through their first years. With the help of external mentors and much experimentation, Northridge gradually built the approach that we now offer in “Teaching Foundations” and “Moving Toward Mastery.” These courses have been refined over a decade, and now regularly see first-year teachers become very successful - both leading a classroom and forming the whole person of their students.
As Northridge’s hiring slowed, the leadership team wanted to ensure its summer workshop felt like the classroom environment it aims to mimic. So they invited other schools to join with their teachers. Everyone loved the experience and schools asked for more. This was an opportunity for Northridge to raise its game, so the team started the Northridge Institute as a win-win.
Learn More About Northridge
Learn More About Our Team