Transdisciplinary Teaching and Learning

Sanam EdwardsBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Innovate Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: Transdisciplinary units allow students to bring all facets of their learning together. Student agency increases student engagement. Students create in-depth work they are proud of. I work for a school that follows the International Baccalaureate curriculum. This means that we follow a transdisciplinary approach, where learning transcends subjects. The concepts of student voice and choice spearhead the program of … Read More

Simplicity for the Interdisciplinary Unit Win

Darcy BakkegardBlog, Connect Better, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Tech Better

TL;DR: Create an interdisciplinary unit by exploring your own community or communities around the world. Tie in social studies, geography, math, art, music, and more in your unit. Using simple technology create videos and presentations. Have students share their projects with the community. If the idea of diving into an interdisciplinary unit (IDU) feels overwhelming, take a breath and just … Read More

The 3 C’s of Curriculum Leadership

Steven WeberBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Grade Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Our world is changing and we need to stay relevant. Curriculum leaders help us narrow our focus. School leaders should be able to curate resources to help with various situations. Allow student choice. Make sure to have common formative assessments. Our Changing World The world is changing and the rapid pace of change is impacting teaching and learning. A … Read More

Kids Do Better When They Are Engaged

Bobbie FrenchBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lead Better, Lesson Plan Better

TL;DR: Everyone wants to be engaged. What are some hooks you use in lessons to capture kids’ attention? Use the ATLAS strategy to think about engagement—attention, transition, lesson, activity, and summation. Engagement Engagement! We can’t get away from it. This is only the 3rd post of my new series—Kids Do Better When…and I’m already talking about engagement again. Do you … Read More

How Do You Differentiate Up?

Teach Better TeamBlog, Differentiate Better, Engage Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: When you differentiate, what are you doing for students who need more of a challenge? You must differentiate up as well. When we hear the term differentiate, we often think this means differentiating to support kids who are struggling. It might mean taking a complex task and chunking it into more easy-to-digest pieces. It could be scaffolding a lesson … Read More