Research Release: Exemplary Teaching Practices in the World of Work

In summer 2021, the Cajon Valley Union School District was interested in identifying exemplary teaching practices among teachers who were identified as skilled in adopting the World of Work (WoW), the curriculum supporting the district’s vision. In this report, the district partnered with researchers at the Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education who also sought to understand how exemplary teachers were internalizing the World of Work, and develop case studies that could be used for professional development with other teachers. Finally, the district wanted to understand what rewards and challenges these teachers were experiencing with the WoW curriculum, as well as any recommendations the teachers might have to improve the WoW curriculum and experience overall. Six teachers were identified, observed, and interviewed over a two week period in fall 2021.

In addition to the six teacher case studies, the report includes twenty-one exemplary teaching practices in the World of Work, both curricular and pedagogical, categorized across teachers and linked to video examples.

Each case study includes a brief biographical overview, the ways in which that teacher had internalized WoW as part of their teaching practice, a generalized theme of how that internalization manifests in their teaching practice, a lesson plan, and identified exemplary practices, including links to multiple video clips illustrating practices. The case studies can be used independently as part of a teacher professional development workshop or as a collection for larger study or group learning.