Teachers reading the 4BELS have asked how this process is different from past theorists and instruction. An important purpose of 4BELS is to ensure that we are using instructional strategies that are ‘brain-friendly’ according to the latest brain research. Past theorists did not have access to the research of the 80’s and beyond. There are elements of their instruction that could be based on later brain information and there are factors that are not brain-friendly. This is what the 4BELS process accomplishes. The book explains how to include past strategies with the intention of learning from the past and improving instruction with present information. You will recognize strategies that you may have successfully implemented with the intention of improving instruction for every student’s strength and talent. This creates optimal learning and emotionally safe environments.