Promoting Student Engagement and Collaboration using Breakouts

Teach Better TeamBlog, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Student Engagement

TL;DR: An introduction the many ways breakouts can be used in your classroom. A “how to” for planning and implementing a breakout in your classroom. As a middle school teacher, I’m always looking for fun new ways to engage my students.  Their current favorite? Breakouts!  Planning a breakout can seem overwhelming, time consuming, and daunting.  I’m here to help walk … Read More

The Power of Place Based Education

Kathleen DeckerBlog, Differentiation, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Helping children to truly learn about their community and to engage in their own learning. Leveraging partnerships within the community to create these learning experiences can transform learning and can yield higher levels of learning for students. How do you create authentic learning experiences in schools? There are several ways to help students experience learning beyond the classroom. At … Read More

Inquiry Focused Classrooms

Chad OstrowskiBlog, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Student Engagement

TL;DR: An introduction to inquiry-focused classrooms. 3 simple questions educators can ask to determine the inquiry level in their classroom. Quick suggestions to increase inquiry in the classroom. What’s an Inquiry-Focused Classroom? While the term “inquiry” is pretty popular in education, I think sometimes it gets a bit overcomplicated. Inquiry learning can be a powerful tool that supports many other … Read More

Authentic Audiences

Tyson GardinBlog, Edtech, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Personalized Learning, Student Engagement

TL;DR: The importance of valuing our students’ voices and helping them feel heard. Taking your classroom to the next level with these strategies to provide an authentic audience. Have you ever struggled to challenge your students? Have you tried to incorporate authentic audiences in your learning activities? If the teacher across the hall can do it, you can too right? … Read More

3 Simple Ways to Unlock Creativity in the Classroom

Jacie MaslykBlog, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Struggling to be more creative? See these 3 simple ways you can unlock creativity in yourself and your students. Tips to use these strategies for yourself or with your students. “I’m just not creative!” Have you heard one of your students proclaim this?  Or maybe you have exhaled this in frustration a time or two yourself. Certainly, there are … Read More