CalTeach Learning Labs Bring Classroom Practice to Life
April 10, 2026
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This spring, UC Irvine CalTeach is continuing to build on its Learning Lab model—an experience that gives teacher candidates the chance to step into real classrooms and see teaching unfold in real time. Students observe a live lesson, then come together with mentor teachers, peers, and faculty to talk through what they saw, what worked, and why.
What started as a small pilot in Fall 2024 has quickly grown into a core part of the CalTeach experience. This year also introduces something new: for the first time, juniors are observing CalTeach senior student teachers co-leading lessons. It’s a simple shift, but an important one. You can feel the difference when you’re watching someone just a step ahead of you. “It was a really good experience—it showed me what’s expected of me and what I’ll be doing next year,” said CalTeach student Aimee Kwon. “I could see myself aspiring to include some of the things I saw.” |
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The sessions take place at Magnolia High School, which has become a bit of a hub for CalTeach. Between alumni now teaching there and current student teachers in the classroom, it’s a place where the program really comes full circle.
Each Learning Lab follows a simple rhythm: a pre-brief to understand the lesson, a live observation, and then a debrief to reflect. That structure gives students a shared experience to dig into—whether it’s how a teacher frames a lesson, responds in the moment, or builds a classroom culture.
“The pre-brief helped me understand the lesson and learning goals before stepping into the classroom,” Kwon added. “And the debrief gave me practical ideas for building a welcoming classroom and responding to students.”
For many students, it’s the small moments that stick. “Giving students the opportunity to share and reword each other’s ideas encourages deeper understanding,” said CalTeach student Thomas Castro. “It helps build confidence and gets more students actively engaged.”
At its core, the Learning Lab is about making that connection between what you learn in class and what it actually looks like in practice. And maybe more importantly, helping future teachers start to see themselves in that role.
Each Learning Lab follows a simple rhythm: a pre-brief to understand the lesson, a live observation, and then a debrief to reflect. That structure gives students a shared experience to dig into—whether it’s how a teacher frames a lesson, responds in the moment, or builds a classroom culture.
“The pre-brief helped me understand the lesson and learning goals before stepping into the classroom,” Kwon added. “And the debrief gave me practical ideas for building a welcoming classroom and responding to students.”
For many students, it’s the small moments that stick. “Giving students the opportunity to share and reword each other’s ideas encourages deeper understanding,” said CalTeach student Thomas Castro. “It helps build confidence and gets more students actively engaged.”
At its core, the Learning Lab is about making that connection between what you learn in class and what it actually looks like in practice. And maybe more importantly, helping future teachers start to see themselves in that role.
