The Back of the Room Mindset
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
— Benjamin Franklin
You walk into a classroom where the energy feels different. Instead of rows of passive learners waiting to be filled with information, you see movement, conversations, sketches on the board, sticky notes on the walls, and students leaning forward—not because they have to, but because they want to.
This is what happens when we teach from the back of the room.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored the six powerful brain-based principles—that guide us toward creating lessons that aren’t just heard but remembered. Each one reminds us that the classroom isn’t about the teacher standing in front and delivering—it’s about the learner actively engaging, creating, and connecting.
But here’s the truth: TBR isn’t just a method. It’s a mindset.
It asks us to shift from being the “sage on the stage” to becoming the “guide on the side.” To trust the learning process enough to step back, give space, and let students do the heavy lifting. Because when learners wrestle with ideas, talk them out, visualize them, and write them down—they don’t just memorize. They transform.
In a world where information is literally at our fingertips, teaching facts alone is no longer enough. What students need are skills—how to think critically, how to collaborate, how to apply what they learn in real life.
And the beauty of Teaching from the Back of the Room is this: by using the brain’s natural learning preferences, we prepare students not just to know but to grow.
Photo: Egypt Education Platform
As we close this series, I encourage you to reflect:
How can you take one small step this week to shift the balance from teaching to learning?
Which principle resonated most with you—and how might you weave it into your next lesson, meeting, or even family conversation?
Because the real power of TBR isn’t found in reading about it—it’s in living it. The classroom, the workplace, even the dinner table—they’re all learning spaces when we show up with curiosity, creativity, and connection.
Teaching from the back of the room isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing differently. It’s about planting seeds of learning in such a way that long after your students leave, they still carry the roots with them.
And that, truly, is teaching that sticks.
Do you want us to bring the Teaching from the Back of the Room 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.
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