Developing integrated units from commercial curriculum
Walking through what it looks like to take commercial curriculum and develop a vibrant, personalized integrated unit. One thing we
Read moreWalking through what it looks like to take commercial curriculum and develop a vibrant, personalized integrated unit. One thing we
Read moreThis year, I am hearing that many teachers feel they aren’t practicing the kind of teaching they believe in as
Read moreEveryone who is watching this? Deserves a high five, a pat on the back or the happy dance of
Read more“What is the implication for how we understand ourselves and each other in reference to our racial identities? And if
Read moreIdeas have been flying around the interwebs. Teachers want ways to connect with their students during remote learning. Creative ways
Read moreI just got off a Google Meet meeting with teachers. They were trying to decide how to engage with students
Read moreWe had been preparing for spring student led conferences for months. Feedback had been reviewed. Plans had been coordinated. Schedules
Read morePart of shifting to personalized learning is centering students in the traditional parent-teacher conference. They need to lead the
Read moreMorning meetings are the norm in many K-6 and K-8 schools in Vermont. They’re a great way to empower
Read moreThese 4th graders say yes. With a little help from the UN’s Global Goals. Students at Ottauquechee Elementary School took
Read moreThe Case of The Library Diversity Audit Whose stories are being told in your library? Whose stories are being left
Read moreWhen I travel to schools around Vermont, I hear many versions of the same concerns: Going anywhere from our school
Read moreRural life and project-based learning You might find students on the skating rink in front of the school, helping out
Read moreHow can you tell the difference between projects and project-based learning? Turns out, even though they both might involve snazzy
Read moreReleasing responsibility in Ottauquechee Ottauquechee Elementary School teacher Kim Dumont had a vision. She wanted to build her students’s self-direction
Read moreFrom Vermont to Mexico and back, via Smart Board As the world becomes increasingly more connected, so should our
Read moreEquity in education has — and needs — many lenses. The work is hard, the work is myriad, the work
Read moreStarting with strengths Imagine you’re reading a written reflection from a student. This particular student writes so beautifully of the
Read moreIt’s September. Your feet have probably not stopped moving for a few weeks, with the start of school, the meetings,
Read moreMaking time for making at Ottauquechee STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics — gives students the opportunity to
Read moreHow did it go? It can be easy to end your project-based learning experiences with students in a big heap
Read moreMeet the Humans of Burke So many schools operate in isolation from the very communities they are situated in. Do
Read moreTED Talks are short, personal powerful storytelling. Now: how can students use this medium as motivation to learn, to explore
Read moreVirtual bulletin boards to go! Staying organized as a teacher can be a major challenge. Between student work, teacher plans,
Read moreThe power of the student consult If you’re wondering what engages, excites and motivates students, the answer is easy: ask
Read moreHope launches in the Northeast Kingdom As part of participating in the UN’s Global Goals, students at Burke Town School,
Read moreHow do you maximize student learning? What are the ways we can do this, and how might our roles and
Read moreUse service learning to grow your community What do you do when you’re a 5th-through-8th middle school housed in two
Read moreTech tools, tips & inspiration The world is BIG. And overwhelming at times. Especially for our students, who hear bits
Read moreIt all starts with an idea. Races Against Racism have taken place around the country, and last spring, a community
Read moreWhy structure? One of the most intimidating things about starting to do service and project based learning in the classroom
Read moreStandard 3-part story-driven post: 1) what it is, 2) what it looks like in a school, 3) how to do it in your school
Read moreThis fall, we’ve been talking about everyday courage in schools. We’ve written about the courage it takes to start a
Read moreThe birth of a YA teacher’s book club “Sometimes you can do everything right and things will still go wrong.
Read moreOr, What to Bring to the First Staff Potluck Opening up to fellow educators can be hard. We all know
Read more3 ways to plan for PBL 2.0 You’ve dipped your toe into project based learning. You’ve planned an entry event, shared
Read moreReflect, celebrate and plan Oh, the spring. Such a busy time for teachers. There are all those transition meetings, already
Read moreExpand your classroom and keep kids engaged The weather is getting nicer. The sun is finally out. And you are
Read moreHow do project-based learning and makerspaces fit together? Making and PBL may look like two completely different educational movements, but in
Read moreVR’s real world impact on students Virtual reality is exciting and many of our students are already using this technology in gaming
Read moreStandard 3-part story-driven post: 1) what it is, 2) what it looks like in a school, 3) how to do it in your school
Read moreStandard 3-part story-driven post: 1) what it is, 2) what it looks like in a school, 3) how to do it in your school
Read moreHow student choice can support literacy English teacher Laela Warnecke set out to answer one question: “How might sustained silent reading impact
Read moreStandard 3-part story-driven post: 1) what it is, 2) what it looks like in a school, 3) how to do it in your school
Read moreStandard 3-part story-driven post: 1) what it is, 2) what it looks like in a school, 3) how to do it in your school
Read morePersonalization for school-based service learning Looking for a way to harness students’ energy while giving them meaningful work that appeals to
Read moreThis is Real World PBL Now we’ve been down the PBL highway, looking at PBL planning, entry events, supports for
Read moreHonor scholars with an authentic audience for their work The culminating event! It’s the lovely finish line of a Project-Based
Read moreSigns along the way Assessments can be hard to create and manage, but they are a necessary part of PBL.
Read moreIt’s where the learning is It is easy to not plan time for reflection in project-based learning (PBL) because there
Read moreWays to support project-based learning Some people have the mistaken idea that PBL is just when you point students in
Read moreYou’ve done an engaging entry event. You have a plan for your PBL unit with a focused driving question. Sweet!
Read moreStart with the dramatic, unexpected & memorable Q: What do we really want from project-based learning? A: We want students
Read moreResources to tackle project-based learning Welcome to the PBL Highway, my new series aimed at helping you on the road
Read moreStructures & examples for student filmmakers Many students love working with video. Students can create videos for any subject to
Read more8 great ways to approach PBL in the primary grades Picture this: you have a class of primary-grade students. Say
Read moreThere is no tired like teachers at the beginning (or end) of the school year are tired. Establishing routines, procedures,
Read moreHow to get started with service learning Service learning can play a key role in middle level curriculum, yet it
Read moreCreate open, flexible, engaging spaces for active student learning. The beginning of the school year! Desks, mailboxes, coat hooks labeled.
Read moreBuild a community to support project-based learning I bet you have big dreams of creative, innovative projects and engaged students
Read moreI’ve just returned from the Middle Grades Institute, and honestly, I am still reeling. My brain is finally slowing down
Read moreKaty’s 2016 Summer Reading Something about this book title and summer reading fits perfectly. The open ocean, pirates, and fierce
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