Rachel Mark is a Professional Development Coordinator in the southern part of Vermont. Prior to working with the Tarrant Institute, Rachel was a middle school literacy and social studies teacher at Tarrant partner school Manchester Elementary-Middle. As a teacher, Rachel loved exploring new content and new methods with inquisitive young adolescents. She thinks middle schools are the most dynamic learning centers in the state. Rachel is passionate about supporting teachers and helping them overcome obstacles; it’s her mission to break down the barriers that teachers face in implementing change. She is interested in student reflection and portfolio based assessment, inquiry and project-based learning
When she’s not reading, researching and supporting teachers, Rachel loves
to play. She balances her life shuttling three busy kids around by getting
sweaty and zen – yoga, exercise, and being outdoors are how she recharges
her metaphorical batteries.
Recent blogposts:
- Reading for fun and growth this summer
- I is for Identity
- L is for Learning Management System (LMS)
- O is for Online Collaboration
- S is for Student-Led Conferences
- Y is for Young Writers Project
- Tailoring the Emergent Project approach for middle school
- Balancing screen time and family time
- Screencasting as PLP reflection
- Providing support for goal-setting in a PLP
- How parents can model healthy tech habits
- The Parent’s Role in a Student-Led Conference
- Real-world problems and project-based learning
- Helping your teen or tween with social media
- Exploring careers in middle school
- Want end-of-year family involvement?
- 3 ways to create a student-led open house
- Power up your Advisory programs
- Looking to try more student-directed learning?
- How to evaluate student-led conferences
- 5 Google Chrome apps and extensions for learner support
- Can virtual reality teach empathy?
- The student-centered art classroom
- 4 end-of-year activities for advisory
- #everydaycourage
- A Developmental Designs approach to student-directed learning
- New year? Time for a reset
- 4 key concepts for families about proficiency-based reporting
- Sharing your school’s Passion Projects
- Why host a whole-school exhibition?
- When students share their work, it deepens the learning