This video features East Side Community Middle and High School in Manhattan - whose innovative practices have fostered an academic culture centered on books and reading. The film includes the role of independent reading; the importance of in-class reading conferences; the creation of the library as the “heart” of the school; and East Side’s trademark Principal's Book Club.

This video features Central Park East II Elementary School in Manhattan - whose distinctive practices foster a culture of exploration, ownership, and creativity in the classroom. Each day students participate in Work Time, a period when they can independently select a place in the classroom to experiment with materials and explore ideas, all while developing oral language and interpersonal skills.

This video features PS 170, an early elementary school in the Bronx - a school that sets high academic standards for its students, many of whom are English Language Learners. Watch as teachers collaborate to design powerful practices that support students' academic growth and build their confidence as independent thinkers.

At Concourse Village Elementary School in the South Bronx, students use “thinking maps,” text annotation, and other visual strategies as a foundation for producing high level academic work. Watch as the young scholars make thinking visible, building a strong community of analytical and creative thinkers.

Yorkville Community School brings its diverse community together through a curriculum built on the unifying power of shared experiences. Watch as teachers create research experiences and investigations within the school and around the neighborhood to empower students as confident participants in a caring school community.