Rethinking the Front of the Classroom
“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning”
— William A. Ward
You’re at the front of the classroom, passionately delivering what you know is good content. You’ve spent hours preparing your slides. You’ve explained things clearly. You even threw in a funny story. But halfway through, you notice it—students shifting in their seats, eyes glazing over, attention drifting anywhere but you.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: teaching from the front of the room doesn’t always mean learning is happening.
That’s where Teaching from the Back of the Room (TBR) comes in. It’s not about literally standing at the back. It’s about flipping the spotlight—shifting from a teacher-centered approach to a learner-centered one, grounded in what we know about how the brain actually learns.
Research in neuroscience tells us that the human brain isn’t built to sit still, listen passively, and absorb information like a sponge. Brains crave movement, interaction, novelty, and chances to make meaning. In short: if learners aren’t engaged, they aren’t retaining.
Teaching from the Back of the Room is built on six brain-based learning principles—what trainer and author Sharon Bowman calls the 6 Trumps™. These aren’t “cute tricks” or “nice-to-have extras.” They are practical, proven ways to make teaching more effective, memorable, and—dare I say—more fun for both teachers and learners.
This September, we’ll dive into powerful, brain-based principles that will transform the way you think about teaching and learning.
Each week, we’ll uncover why some methods stick while others fall flat—and how you can bring more energy, connection, and real learning into your classroom.
This isn’t about fancy tools or adding more to your already full plate. It’s about teaching smarter, not harder. Small tweaks. Big results.
By the end of the month, you’ll have practical strategies that will help you step back a little, so your students can step up a lot.
Because when the focus shifts from teaching to learning, everything changes.
Do you want us to bring the Positive Discipline in the Classroom training directly to your school or organization.
From leadership teams to full faculty, we offer customized workshops that equip educators to integrate SEL and Educational Neuroscience seamlessly into everyday teaching.
💡 Let’s partner to build stronger, more connected school communities—together.
NEED AN AID TO PLAN THIS
NEW SCHOOL YEAR?
