In this episode, Dr. Jess Laine translates the research findings from her dissertation into practical, classroom-ready takeaways. After examining both engagement and achievement data, she answers the question every educator is asking: What do I actually do with this information?

From prioritizing relationships and building strong classroom communities to incorporating voice, choice, and guided discovery, Dr. Jess shares actionable strategies teachers can implement immediately, whether they work in a traditional or Montessori setting. She emphasizes the power of blending structure with exploration, showing how direct instruction and discovery learning can work together to deepen understanding.

If you’re looking for realistic, research-based ways to increase engagement and support meaningful learning, this episode is your roadmap.