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The HAYES Method, developed by Dr. Alisha A. Hayes, Ed.D., is a research-based instructional approach that transforms traditional teaching into dynamic, student-centered learning. It promotes creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving through hands-on, inquiry-driven experiences.

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This method blends the best of multiple evidence-based practices—structured literacy (including Orton-Gillingham), constructivist math, social learning theory, project-based STEM, and Multiple Intelligences Theory—to build deep, lasting understanding across all content areas.

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At the heart of the method is the H-A-Y-E-S Model™, a flexible lesson planning framework designed to support how students naturally learn, think, and apply knowledge. Each component ensures that instruction is meaningful, interactive, and mastery-driven:

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• H – Hook & Engage
  Capture curiosity with a question, challenge, or scenario that ignites interest.

• A – Active Exploration
  Students learn by doing—through movement, experimentation, play, and inquiry.

• Y – Your Voice & Thinking
  Learners process and express understanding using their strengths—whether through speaking, writing, drawing, or collaboration.

• E – Expand & Apply
  Concepts connect to real-world situations and interdisciplinary challenges.

• S – Showcase & Reflect
  Students demonstrate learning through projects, performances, or presentations—and reflect on their growth.

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The model is grounded in the work of leading educational thinkers and researchers:

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• Jerome Bruner – Spiral Curriculum: revisiting key ideas with depth

• Lev Vygotsky – Social Learning & ZPD: guided learning through interaction

• Jean Piaget – Constructivism: knowledge through exploration

• Judith Hochman – Explicit Writing Instruction: building structured expression

• Samuel Orton & Anna Gillingham – Multisensory Structured Literacy: foundational for reading instruction

• Scarborough’s Reading Rope – Reading comprehension & decoding integration

• Howard Gardner – Multiple Intelligences: honoring diverse ways of learning—linguistic, logical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic

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 The HAYES Method™ is rooted in the belief that learning should be intentional, strategic, and built around the whole child. Every lesson is crafted to support discovery, flexibility, and mastery, meeting students where they are while guiding them toward where they’re capable of going.

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By combining hands-on exploration with academic rigor, it fosters confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Instruction is personalized and purposeful—designed not just to cover standards, but to help students connect, create, and thrive in both today’s world and the one they’ll shape tomorrow.

Copyright Notice
The Hayes Method™ and HAYES Framework are the original intellectual property of Dr. Alisha Hayes and are protected under U.S. copyright and trademark law.
© 2025 Dr. Hayes Educates. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized reproduction, adaptation, or use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited.

For licensing inquiries or authorized partnership requests, please contact: drhayes@drhayeseducates.com