From the Publisher
"For teachers exploring mastery learning on their own or for schools launching a mastery pilot, Bergmann's book is an invaluable guide into what a mastery classroom can really look like. You'll find everything from lesson plans and classroom arrangements to rubrics and gradebooks, with Bergmann offering his own concrete examples and additional insight from other teachers who are deeply invested in competency-based approaches to teaching and learning."
—Justin Reich, Mitsui Career Development Professor, MIT Comparative Media Studies/Writing and Director, MIT Teaching Systems Lab
"This very practical handbook had me completely rethinking how my classes could be structured for a competency-based approach to student achievement. The section about reducing the grading you take home make so much sense, and it makes the students active learners in the process as they demonstrate mastery of a topic. This book should be read by all educators interesting in engaging students with active and deep learning."
—Meg Ormiston, author, teacher, and educational consultant
"This book is like having a mentor at your side as you plan for mastery learning. It nudges, supports, and guides you as you focus on the biggest of challenges of teaching: making sure every student has mastered the concepts before moving on. An important resource for all teachers."
—Jeane Schocroft, deputy principal, Open Access College, Marden, Australia
"Mastery learning was one of the best things I have ever encountered in my educational journey, and it really made me feel at ease in my new school. It encouraged and inspired me to buckle down and actually learn things instead of just trying to remember long enough to do well on a test."
—Michael, a student in the author's class
"Mastery learning provides many benefits that are impossible to attain in a traditional classroom. First of all, instead of using all of class to lecture, class time is used to ensure that students understand the topics. Second, since students send class time working, all there is to do at home is watch videos, which takes way less time and results in learning the subject just as, if not more, effectively."
—Robert, a student in the author's class
"Jonathan Bergmann has provided educators and school leaders with the definitive guide to effectively implement mastery learning in schools. Not only does this book build the case for mastery learning in theory, it also lays out detailed strategies and proven practices that teachers can readily deploy in their classrooms. If your goal is to learn how mastery and competency-based instruction can fundamentally transform your classroom practice, start here!"
—Tom Driscoll, CEO, EdTechTeacher
"I have not read a more insightful and practical guide for teachers working to improve their craft and to understand not just the why but the very practical day-to-day how of mastery-based learning. Jon Bergmann's research, interviews, first-hand experience, and humility all combine to make The Mastery Learning Handbook comprehensive, usable, and delightful to read."
—Patricia C. Russell, chief learning officer, Mastery Transcript Consortium
"The Mastery Learning Handbook is an inspiring, well-thought-out, research-based yet completely practical guide forged in the fire of real-world experiences. It's great not only for educators new to mastery and flipped learning but also for experienced mastery practitioners looking to incorporate the latest research, gain practical tools for troubleshooting, and learning from inspiring stories and tips from teachers around the world."
—Joseph Liaw, instructional innovation coach and physics teacher, Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, Illinois
"The Mastery Learning Handbook is a must-read for teachers who want to reach every student in their classroom. This book offers examples of setting up your classroom and how you can guide, help, and instruct each student. It also shows you how you can individually evaluate their learning by creating a unique test for each student. In my opinion, this is a must-read for both teachers and school leaders. Sometimes all you need are the right tools to do the work. You'll find them here."
—Ann S. Michaelsen, school leader and author The Digital Classroom, Transforming the Way We Learn
"In this easy-to-read implementation guide, Jon Bergmann identifies the challenges that one is likely to face when implementing mastery learning and explains how he and others have successfully navigated around and through those challenges. He makes the claim, 'This book is going to push you,' and he provides the evidence as to why this kind of push is necessary and leads to greater student engagement and understanding and positive academic outcomes. This book is a must-read for every forward-thinking, future-focused teacher and school administrator."
—Charles Khoury, superintendent and chief executive officer, Ulster BOCES, Port Ewen, New York
"I truly believe this book should form the basis for a preservice course for anyone training to be a teacher. This is the handbook for how to be an effective authentic educator in today's variable and digital climate. Author Jonathan Bergmann has not glossed over any challenges and provides direct guidance to make mastery/competency-based education achievable for all teachers at any level. I will be recommending this book to all of the schools I work with without hesitation."
—Beth Lamb, digital immersion leader, Te Puawai Cluster Schools, New Zealand
"If you want to reach your students, if you want to succeed as a teacher, jump into this book: Learn from it and implement its mastery learning cycle. You will not regret it. Jon Bergmann has collected the experience from creative and successful teachers from all over the world, opening up for you the process of mastery learning in an easily understandable format. My advice to all educators: Try it; you will not regret it."
—Hjalmar Arnason, managing director of Keilir Academy, Reykjanesbaer, Iceland
"Jonathan Bergmann provides educators with a step-by-step guide to teaching and learning that is designed to meet students where they are. Mastery learning provides students with the support they need to learn and instills a sense of discipline critical to intellectual maturity. The notion of mastery builds self-confidence in ways that motivate and inspire students. This manual is a must-read for any educator who is committed to effective student learning and well-being."
—Joel Backon, vice president, Intrepid Ed News
"How do educators put mastery learning components together to truly reach each learner? Jonathan Bergmann's guidebook explains in detail and with many examples the steps it will take to revolutionize education with mastery learning. It's time for equitable learning that works for all learners!"
—Maureen O’Shaughnessy, author, Education Evolution podcast host, and founding leader of the LEADPrep microschool
"This book really is about mastery learning done right. Proceeding from Benjamin Bloom's research, author Jonathan Bergmann shows how modern technology brings about possibilities that Bloom could only dream of. Mastery learning has components to support student-owned learning, success for all students, collaborative learning, student metacognition, and deeper learning models such as PBL and authentic learning. This is definitely the book designed to meet needs of today's teachers. It is a great manual for individual educators or a professional learning community book study."
—Michael Gorman, education consultant and creator of the 21centuryedtech blog
"Mastery learning has been the unrealized dream of education giants for the last century, who recognized it as a better way to lift outcomes for every student. Thanks to The Mastery Learning Handbook, that dream can be brought to life in your classroom today."
—John Baker, founder and CEO of D2L
"The Mastery Learning Handbook is a necessary and powerful text for teachers working in post–COVID-19 hybrid times—a time when it is urgent to rethink the way we teach, the strategies we use, and whether or not we are taking into account the needs of our increasingly diverse students. Jon Bergmann's book provides guidance and inspiration—through his enthusiasm for the mastery learning approach and his love for teaching."
—Miguel Sedoff, Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, Misiones, Argentina
