(Guest Blog – Tessa Dodson) Tessa Dodson, Senior Writer of Classrooms.com, explores the need for students to develop the learning behaviors of seeking and using support from others. She suggests actions teachers can take to build these skills and mindsets. Instructional coaches can explore the benefits to students and teachers of building these empowered learning […]

I have been a long-time promoter of engaging students in real-life (project-based) opportunities. That’s driven from my own experiences as a 4-H participant in my elementary and high school years and having observed teachers and students tackling powerful learning through doing live event projects. Those experiences generated my interest to learn more when I was […]

The WOOP process (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) looks to engage learners in goal setting by stretching their aspirations while acknowledging the messy realities of progress. In her book, “Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation,”Gabrielle Oettingen challenged the belief that merely imagining positive futures helps us succeed. She developed WOOP as an evidence-based […]

Have you witnessed this in your classroom or had teachers share it as a coaching request? “When the cognitive load rises, many students default to learned- helplessness or passive habits. I see it in the quick, ‘I don’t get it’ before they have engaged with the problem, in the immediate search for confirmation rather than […]

I heard about a great experience illustrating awe in learning that was shared by a group of middle school students and their teacher in Grand Island, New York. They joined me on this podcast sharing their reflections and insights. As you hear their story consider where these elements of Awe appeared: Awe occurs when we […]

The use of learning stations can provide teachers and students at all grade levels increased options for differentiated learning with greater student agency. Catlin Tucker shares many specific station rotation strategies for handling issues around school schedules, class size, and management. Her knowledge around blended learning options expands the opportunities. Find Catlin’s resources here. Subscribe […]