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Innovative Education in VT

A blog exploring innovative school change by the UVM Tarrant Institute

  • ABOUT US
    • We stand against systemic racism.
    • Diversity Policy
    • The Tarrant Institute
    • Our staff
      • Penny Bishop
      • John Downes
      • Susan Hennessey
      • Audrey Homan
      • Emily Hoyler
      • Life LeGeros
      • Rachel Mark
      • Robin Merritt
      • Jeanie Phillips
      • Scott Thompson
      • Lucie delaBruere
    • Our schools
    • Our book
      • How to use this Educator’s Guide
      • Ch 1: Defining Personalized Learning
        • 1.1 The Three Pillars of Personalized Learning
        • 1.2 The Definition of a PLP
        • 1.3 New Student & Teacher Roles
      • Ch 2: PLPs Aren’t Just For The Teacher
        • 2.1 Knowing Students Well
        • 2.2 Avoid the Pitfalls!
      • Ch 3: Laying The Groundwork for PLPs
        • 3.1 What Are Your Pedagogical Priorities?
        • 3.2 Structures to Support Personalized Learning
      • Ch 4: Starting with the Learner Profile
      • Ch 5: Flexing Your Pathways
        • 5.1 Engaging Pedagogies for All
      • Ch. 6: Scaffolding for Equitable, Deeper Learning
      • Ch 7: PLPs & Proficiency-Based Assessment
      • Ch 8: Student-led PLP conferences
      • Ch 9: Sustaining Innovation
      • Chapter References
  • VIDEOS
    • Tech Tips
    • PLP videos
    • Proficiency-Based Learning Videos
    • Student-Led Conference Videos
  • PODCASTS
    • The 21st Century Classroom
    • #vted Reads
      • #vted Reads Videos
  • EVENTS & COURSES
  • RESOURCES
    • REMOTE LEARNING
    • PERSONALIZED LEARNING
      • PERSONALIZED LEARNING PLANS (PLPs)
      • FLEXIBLE PATHWAYS
      • PROFICIENCY-BASED EDUCATION
        • Learning Goals
        • Meaningful Instruction
        • Formative Assessment
        • Summative Assessment
    • Action research
    • Digital citizenship
    • Family & Community Involvement
    • Family communication
    • Flexible classrooms
    • Genius Hour
    • Identity
    • Makerspaces
    • Negotiated curriculum
    • Project-based learning (PBL)
    • Reflection
    • Scheduling
    • Service learning
    • Student-led conferences
    • Student voice
  • CONTACT
  • ARCHIVES

Author: Rachel Mark

News 

Setting goals with students for the new year

January 19, 2021 Rachel Mark 0 Comments

No matter what that new year looks like. At the start of a new year, we often think about our

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mindfulness activities for advisory
News 

7 mindfulness activities for advisory

December 2, 2020December 2, 2020 Rachel Mark 0 Comments advisory

Now, more than ever. Many schools have an advisory structure to promote strong relationships and a sense of close community.

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you deserve a break
News 

Dear educators: you deserve a break. 

November 20, 2020November 20, 2020 Rachel Mark 0 Comments

As we enter the week of Thanksgiving, please take care of yourselves and find time for rest and solace. You

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pandemic the parent's role in a student-led conference pandemic student-led conferences
Student-Led Conferences 

Making pandemic student-led conferences work

November 9, 2020 Rachel Mark 0 Comments Rutland Middle School

Staying connected to one another during a pandemic can be hard. Like many of us, teachers and parents have faced

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integrated curriculu
Integrated Learning Teaming 

What makes integrated curriculum work?

October 23, 2020October 26, 2020 Rachel Mark 2 Comments

Middle level educators have long sung the praises of integrated curriculum. It’s been a foundational practice in some middle schools.

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public exhibitions of learning pandemic
Remote Learning 

What do public exhibitions of learning look like during a pandemic?

August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 Rachel Mark Audrey Homan 0 Comments Mt Abraham Union HS, Warren Elementary School, Williston Central School

The days of hosting public exhibitions and showcases in the school gymnasium appear to be over. For now. Some schools

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News 

Everything is not canceled.

May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 Rachel Mark 0 Comments chickens, resilience

I think I speak for many when I share that I have experienced innumerable emotions, moods, and feelings during this

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hunter education in Vermont
Proficiency-Based Learning The 21st Century Classroom 

Hunter education in Vermont

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020 Audrey Homan Rachel Mark 3 Comments hunter education
http://www.uvm.edu/tiie/podcasts/Hunter_education_in_Vermont.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Email | RSS

In this episode of The 21st Century Classroom: I don’t think a lot of people think that I’m a hunter.

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virtual morning meeting
Remote Learning 

How to conduct a virtual morning meeting

May 4, 2020April 30, 2020 Rachel Mark 1 Comment advisory, morning meeting

During this COVID-19 crisis, we as adult educators, are collectively mourning the loss of our everyday routines and face-to-face interactions.

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morning meeting at home
Remote Learning 

How to run an in-person morning meeting at home

April 6, 2020April 6, 2020 Rachel Mark 2 Comments behavioral norms, morning meeting, norms

Parents, how are you doing at home with your new “homeschool classroom”? I’m with you. I’ve been waking up every

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Self-directed learning 

Digging into self-direction

February 14, 2020February 25, 2020 Rachel Mark 3 Comments research, self-directed learning, self-direction

When states around the country shifted towards standards-based, competency-based and proficiency-based learning and reporting, that involved separating the content-specific skills

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positive emotional energy
Transferable Skills 

3 ways to bring positive emotional energy to your school

January 24, 2020February 25, 2020 Rachel Mark 1 Comment emotional energy, emotional resilience, gratitude journal, mindfulness

Positive emotional energy makes positive learning. We need systems focused on creating positive and safe climates. We also need, as

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hunter education in Vermont
Flexible Pathways 

Hitting learning targets in Vermont hunter education

October 7, 2019October 7, 2019 Rachel Mark 4 Comments Flexible Pathway Implementation Kit, hunting, hunting education, transferable skills, Vermont Fish & Wildlife, Vermont Hunter Safety, VT AOE

My twelve-year-old son is becoming a hunter. Myself, I’ve never even fired a gun, but Henry has been interested in

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A quartet of Mettawee 6th graders hosts a pop-up store at the school's holiday boutique.
Stories from VT Students 

Equity and the in-school business

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019 Audrey Homan Rachel Mark 0 Comments culture, economics, equity, field trips, holiday bazaar, in-school business, Mettawee Community School

Mettawee creates school “bank” to crowdfund field trip spending money Mettawee Community School, in West Pawlet VT, loves tradition. They’re

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Manchester Historical Society in action
Stories from VT Students 

Who are the keepers of your town’s history?

March 1, 2019March 5, 2019 Audrey Homan Rachel Mark 0 Comments 3D printing, architecture, CAD design, history, integrated unit, Manchester Elementary Middle School, Manchester Historical Society, Tinkercad

Reviving Manchester’s past through oral histories & 3D printing With support from the local historical society, 7th graders in Manchester

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Currier School cooking videos
Proficiency-Based Learning 

Getting started with cooking videos

December 12, 2018August 20, 2019 Audrey Homan Rachel Mark 0 Comments cooking, cooking videos, Currier Memorial School, digital storytelling, food, iMovie, video in the classroom

A recipe for video-making proficiency The ubiquity of the digital camera, whether mounted in smartphone, tablet or Chromebook, is getting

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parenting a student-run business
Flexible Pathways 

Parenting a student-run business

October 8, 2018October 11, 2018 Rachel Mark 1 Comment family involvement, parenting, pop-up business

There’s learning in the lemonade stand What might be your child’s first experience with business? That’s right: the lemonade stand.

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Reflection 

When students share their work, it deepens the learning

April 20, 2018December 14, 2018 Rachel Mark 0 Comments Flood Brook Union School, school exhibitions

Lessons from an exhibition These days, I’ve been thinking about the reasons we ask students to share their work. A

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what makes school exhibitions so powerful?
Stories from VT Students 

Why host a whole-school exhibition?

April 6, 2018September 26, 2018 Rachel Mark 2 Comments Manchester Elementary-Middle School, school exhibition, school exhibitions

Providing an arena for powerful family feedback School exhibitions take work. They take work to organize, schedule, promote and pull

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Uncategorized 

A Developmental Designs approach to student-directed learning

August 25, 2017June 18, 2018 Rachel Mark 1 Comment #everydaycourage, Brattleboro Area Middle School, developmental designs

It takes a courageous village In order for student centered learning to happen, we have to invest in explicitly teaching

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News 

#everydaycourage

August 22, 2017November 21, 2018 Rachel Mark Katy Farber 1 Comment #everydaycourage, back-to-school

It’s time we celebrated it in our schools. When we walk into Vermont schools, we see it. It’s there, every time,

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Uncategorized 

4 end-of-year activities for advisory

June 11, 2017June 16, 2017 Rachel Mark 0 Comments advisory, Flipboard, Google Sites, Manchester Elementary-Middle School

Acknowledge, share, recognize The end of the school year is every bit as happy and joyous as it is chaotic

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Flexible Pathways Self-directed learning 

The student-centered art classroom

May 16, 2017June 23, 2017 Rachel Mark 4 Comments art, proficiency-based assessment, Rutland Town School

Standard 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

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Augmented Reality 

Can virtual reality teach empathy?

January 27, 2017January 27, 2017 Rachel Mark 10 Comments Flood Brook School, Google Expeditions

Google Expedition aims to connect students with refugee experience Teaching empathy to our future citizens of the world may be

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Uncategorized 

5 Google Chrome apps and extensions for learner support

January 3, 2017January 3, 2017 Rachel Mark 1 Comment Announcify, Calmly Writer, Google Type with Your Voice, Grammarly, SpeakIt!

Support for visual, attention & motor control challenges Remember training Dragon Dictation to recognize your student’s voice? That technology was pretty

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Student-Led Conferences 

How to evaluate student-led conferences

November 17, 2016November 17, 2016 Rachel Mark 0 Comments Brattleboro Area Middle School

Feedback, feedback, feedback! As educators, it’s absolutely critical that we reflect on our practices, especially new ones. As schools around

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Dorset School
Self-directed learning 

Looking to try more student-directed learning?

October 17, 2016November 30, 2018 Rachel Mark 0 Comments genius hour, student-directed learning, The Dorset School

Test the waters with “Genius Groups” Start by turning your class over to students. You heard me. Set aside classroom

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Uncategorized 

Power up your Advisory programs

September 29, 2016April 19, 2018 Rachel Mark 2 Comments #readytolaunch, advisory, Brattleboro Area Middle School

How 30 minutes can leave a lasting impact on the day. Advisory: the first 15 to 30 minutes of every

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Uncategorized 

3 ways to create a student-led open house

September 12, 2016April 19, 2018 Rachel Mark 0 Comments #readytolaunch

Student leadership at a school Open House? You betcha. You’ve heard of student-led conferences, but how about a Student-Led Open

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Innovative Edtech Classrooms Student-Led Conferences 

Want end-of-year family involvement?

June 10, 2016September 19, 2018 Rachel Mark 0 Comments Brattleboro Area Middle School, family communication, family engagement, family involvement

Try Passage Presentations. The end of every school year is tough. Teachers and administrators struggle to keep students in line,

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Uncategorized 

Exploring careers in middle school

May 24, 2016May 25, 2016 Rachel Mark 0 Comments Mill River Union High School

How one school tackles work-based learning “Work-based learning experiences are activities that involve actual work experience or that connect classroom

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Uncategorized 

Helping your teen or tween with social media

April 11, 2016April 11, 2016 Rachel Mark 15 Comments digital citizenship, social media

To follow or not to follow… that is the question. Oh Hamlet, you would be so perplexed on this one!

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Project-Based Learning 

Real-world problems and project-based learning

March 16, 2016November 30, 2018 Rachel Mark 10 Comments PBL, real world learning, STEM

Adapting big science for a middle school classroom One of the keys of the Project-Based Learning approach is to engage

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Student-Led Conferences 

The Parent’s Role in a Student-Led Conference

February 19, 2016February 28, 2016 Rachel Mark 9 Comments family communication

How can you support your student in sharing how they learn? In recent decades, schools have turned the table on

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Uncategorized 

How parents can model healthy tech habits

February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 Rachel Mark 5 Comments

Tips for when to turn off the tech In addition to being an educator, I’m also a parent — of

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Uncategorized 

Providing support for goal-setting in a PLP

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 Rachel Mark 6 Comments goal-setting

3 strategies shared by local educators At Manchester Elementary Middle School, sixth grade students speak fluently about their Personal Learning

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Student-Led Conferences Videos 

Screencasting as PLP reflection

December 17, 2015August 7, 2019 Rachel Mark 6 Comments Screencast-o-matic, screencasting, The Dorset School

Students create screencasts for student-led conferences Sixth graders at The Dorset School in southern Vermont are in their second year

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Uncategorized 

Balancing screen time and family time

November 30, 2015February 2, 2016 Rachel Mark 5 Comments digital citizenship, family communication

When to put the device down Let’s face it, it’s a challenge to balance technology in our lives; but it’s

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News 

Tailoring the Emergent Project approach for middle school

November 9, 2015November 10, 2015 Rachel Mark 8 Comments Vermont

Emergent Project approach works wonders in middle school An unexpected highlight of my days at the 2015 AMLE Conference in

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Uncategorized 

Y is for Young Writers Project

October 16, 2015April 19, 2018 Rachel Mark 8 Comments #ABCsofedtech, literacy, Young Writers Project

Using the Young Writers Project to teach writing There are so many reasons to appreciate how we teach adolescents to write

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Student-Led Conferences 

S is for Student-Led Conferences

September 26, 2015April 19, 2018 Rachel Mark 5 Comments #ABCsofedtech

Steps to a student-led conference Some of my most poignant moments as a teacher occurred around the table of a

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Uncategorized 

O is for Online Collaboration

September 18, 2015April 19, 2018 Rachel Mark 8 Comments #ABCsofedtech, edmodo, Google Docs, Google Slides, Skype

Online collaboration extends student learning networks Online collaboration takes on new significance as students extend their learning network in conjunction

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Uncategorized 

L is for Learning Management System (LMS)

September 10, 2015April 19, 2018 Rachel Mark 7 Comments #ABCsofedtech, Canvas, edmodo, Edmunds Middle School, Google Classroom, Harwood Union Middle School, LMS, Peoples Academy Middle Level, Schoology

What can you do with an LMS? LMS stands for Learning Management System. An LMS is an application for planning, delivering, managing,

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identity in PLPs
Identity 

I is for Identity

September 2, 2015October 2, 2018 Rachel Mark 5 Comments #ABCsofedtech, Book Creator, Edmunds Middle School, evernote, Flipboard, Google Sites, Harwood Union Middle School, PLPs, Young Writers Project

3 tech-rich strategies for exploring identity with students “Who am I?” is the question at the heart of the adolescent

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Uncategorized 

Reading for fun and growth this summer

July 9, 2015July 9, 2015 Rachel Mark 6 Comments growth mindset, reading

Howdy. I’m Rachel – new Professional Development Coordinator at the Tarrant Institute. I live in the beautiful southern part of

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UPCOMING EVENTS

 

  • 1/23: 2021 MIDDLE GRADES CONFERENCE #mgcollab
  • 1/28 @ 3pm EST: Innovating in the Classroom with Interactive 3D Tools
  • 2/4 @ 3:30pm EST: Who’s Outside? Building an Anti-Racist Bookshelf
  • 2/9 @ 4pm EST: De-Colonializing Place-Based Education
  • 2/10 @ 7pm EST: Facilitating Hard Conversations
UVM Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education online events

Recent posts

  • What does your rice smell like?
  • Setting goals with students for the new year
  • Why PD in a pandemic?
  • Children of Blood and Bone on #vted Reads
  • Lessons learned from a community conversation on race

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