Reclaiming Joy at the End of the School Year
At VIDA middle school in Vista Unified School District, students in an English class give each other affirmations and gratitudes throughout the year. “Joy is the ultimate goal of teaching and learning, not test prep or graduation.” - Gholdy Muhammad, author, Unearthing Joy The end of the school year is in plain sight. Maybe you’re feeling elated, maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed or apprehensive, maybe it’s a mix of all these emotions, undoubtedly with some exhaustion mixed in. It may feel like time to focus on just surviving until summer break. According to Psychology Today, surviving is a slog ...
Scaling the Collaboration Pyramid
Students assemble a model wind turbine they constructed. Photo by Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages Collaboration is a top skill employers look for according to LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed, all job search tools that see thousands of job postings everyday. It’s not surprising then that in a review of over 50 school, district, and state Learner Profiles (often called Graduate Profiles or Portraits of a Graduate), we found collaboration as a common desired learner outcome. At Learner-Centered Collaborative, our framework prioritizes collaboration as one of our three whole-learner outcomes we believe are key for learners to be ...
Embark Education: Rethinking Middle School Through Embedded, Integrated, and Learner-Centered Education
This micro middle-school, embedded in two small businesses, was designed with learners at the center and is an exemplar of what’s possible in learner-centered education. Learn how their design pillars, scheduling model, learner profile, competencies, assessment practices, and demonstrations of learning have evolved to form a powerful, learner-centered, student-driven middle school learning experience.
5 Ways to Foster Learner-Centered Innovation Through Professional Learning Cycles
Learning at any age requires clarity of objectives or goals, continued practice, feedback cycles, and plans for iteration and growth. This is why professional learning is best done through learning cycles instead of being a one-and-done event. These learning cycles promote a culture of sharing and innovation and oftentimes are best done in Communities of Practice or Professional Learning Community (PLCs) . At Coyote Springs Elementary School in Prescott Valley, AZ, Professional Learning Community members that meet regularly throughout the year build learner-centered teaching practices in the same way they encourage their students to learn: capturing and reflecting on evidence ...
Uncovering the True Purpose of Assessment
In a learner-centered classroom, assessment is not done to but rather with the learner. Assessment becomes less about determining what a student doesn’t know or can’t do, but instead the emphasis shifts to providing opportunities for students to show what they do know and can do.
