A laboratory school is a place where children are guided by educators and learn through experiences. A place where the best educators learn from children and let them guide their practice. Sometimes affiliated with a university or department of education, a laboratory school is associated with three focus points: teaching, training, and research. This structure creates a natural link between education and research allowing mentor-teachers to engage in the practice of teaching like a scientist, developing and testing new techniques, evaluating the result and implementing as a new technique or making changes if not successful. A laboratory school serves as a space to support and encourage mentor- teachers to experiment and innovate with different theories of education and put them into practice in the classroom. Mentor-teachers learn from students and allow them to guide their practice. This allows mentor-teachers to tailor the curriculum and learning process to meet the needs of each student. Through a supportive system of advisement and mentorship, mentor-teachers are given the latitude to develop and improve their craft on a regular basis. Colleagues provide regular constructive feedback and assistance, creating a supportive collegial work environment. Mentor-teachers consistently gain feedback through the collaborative nature of the teaching environment and the use of formative assessments to assess student progress and the effectiveness of teaching practices. A laboratory school is also a space where students learn through experiences. Student learning is experiential and students also help dictate the pace they cover curriculum in accordance with their individual learning goals. How students approach problems and engage with the material will differ according to their individual learning styles. The laboratory school learning environment is the perfect incubator for student growth and innovation in learning.
