We need to do a better job with definitions in our field, and I’d start with making sure that everyone is recognizing the distinctions among curriculum and instruction and assessment.

We need to ensure that classrooms are running well, instruction is strong across classrooms, and grade levels are building upon each other’s work. To provide the leadership that increases student learning, we as school leaders have to be present where the learning happens — in our classrooms during daily instruction.

Talking with parents and educators in Seoul, Launa Hall discovers at the elementary level a surprising balance of rigor, creativity, joy, and cultural pride in literacy in a country known for its high academic achievement.