The DSC Way

The teaching materials of Developmental Studies Center offer a pedagogy that is unique in American education. The DSC Way can transform even struggling schools into places of inspiration and community where students are intrinsically motivated, develop collaborative behavior, and succeed academically.

Creating a Culture for Learning

DSC materials are written to inspire teachers and empower students. By carefully integrating curriculum materials with reflective professional development, DSC can fulfill its promise for students and teachers.

Students do the thinking and talking about ideas.

Every day, DSC students share original, innovative, personal observations, ideas, and opinions and display the confidence to explain and defend them.

Students are intrinsically motivated to learn.

The increased level of engagement with DSC’s instructional materials captures students’ imagination and motivates student learning from within.

Programs build a classroom community of learners.

With a sense of community, students feel safe to explore, learn to ask questions, work together, reach agreement, and go deeper into what they are learning.

Students become better readers, writers, and thinkers.

DSC students grow through the grades as readers, writers, thinkers, and principled people who express themselves with passion and intent.

Partner work deepens the learning.

In DSC classrooms, students learn to be effective collaborative partners who not only can express their own ideas, but also benefit from the ideas of others.

Instruction builds teacher expertise and reflection.

Instructional support for teacher practice develops incrementally throughout the year and is enhanced with interactive, reflective professional development.

Students take responsibility for their own learning.

DSC students have a voice in their classroom, use cooperative structures, develop shared values, and take responsibility for their own learning and behavior.