I understand well the lament of teachers that this entity or that does not support classroom learning. Parents range from indifferent to supportive to hostile to meddling; administrators can lead, but they can also find themselves overworked or torn between competing priorities. Then, we have society, whose emphasis on diversion, consumption, and intensity hardly foster curiosity and a desire to learn.

In over three decades in my career, I have found that two essential strategies–each with many phases–can overcome these realities. For time and space constraints, I offer only a vague outline here.

First, to the greatest extent possible, factor out any unreliable components in the pedagogical equation. If parents and families–even those of only a few students–fall short of meaningful support, teachers should look carefully at the few points of leverage they have with students, no matter how trivial or ineffective they seem, and work together to amplify them. If administration cannot properly respond, teams of staff can collaborate to create incentives and consequences for students that have credibility and relevance. If our culture at large distracts and derails, classroom activities should move as far in the other direction as possible, no matter how counterintuitive it feels. If an academic and social benefit impels such an effort, and if colleagues unite in it, we must never underestimate the ability of students to rise to a standard that receives coordinated, determined reinforcement.

Second, if at any point in building the first strategy, ideas should appear scarce or inspiration should lack, look to the teacher whose learning environment has the evident qualities of order, activity, and atmosphere. Every school building has at least one such professional, and he or she seems to carry on with air of detachment. Approach this teacher, and ask lots of questions. This will add significant momentum to the effort in short order.

The rest is detail, but it truly is this simple in principle, even if the execution requires attention and perseverance. More commentary might best appear in another post.