by Kathy Cassidy | Jan 13, 2012 | Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices
Our student-led parent conferences always center around each first-grader’s individual blog. Their blogs are an online portfolio that shows their learning in all of our subject areas through the year. Because this work has been posted through the term, the parents have almost all seen the work before, but the comments that their children make during the conference regarding their goals help the parent to know what specific skills we have been working on and what to watch for through the next few months.
by Shelley Wright | Jan 10, 2012 | Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices
Teachers who are interested in shifting their classrooms often don’t know where to start. It can be overwhelming, frightening, and even discouraging, especially when no one else around you seems to think the system is broken. The question I’ve been asked often throughout the past year is “Where should a teacher begin?” I’ve reflected on this a fair amount, and I think small strategic steps are the key.
by Patti Grayson | Jan 3, 2012 | Creating Global Classrooms, Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, Personal Learning Networks, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices
As we return to the classroom in January we’re refreshed, renewed, and rarin’ to go, right? If you’ve been putting off shifting your classroom due to time constraints, fear, or confusion about what “shifting†is, now is the time to take that first step forward. In the five full months that remain (in most of North America, at least), commit yourself to one of these steps each month and you’ll be on your way.
by John Norton | Dec 30, 2011 | Connected Leadership, Creating Global Classrooms, Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, Passion Based Learning, The Compelling Need for Change, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices, Voices Index, Web Tools That Deepen Learning
I’m a little reluctant to follow the popular annual tradition of announcing a “Top 10” — mostly because I’ve read every one of the 100+ articles we’ve posted since our March launch. Whatever the click counts, I know how much great content we have to share, written by a remarkable cross-section of creative and visionary educators. Still, a colleague assures me that Top 10 lists are a good way for folks to sample the product and become regular readers. Reason enough. And I’m sure you won’t mind if I add a few extra!
by Margaret Haviland | Dec 22, 2011 | Less Teacher, More Student, Making The Shift, Passion Based Learning, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices
The first Westtown School World History Film Festival has come and gone. Two weeks before Thanksgiving my students were channeling Ken Burns — and serving as witting accomplices in my continuing shift toward student ownership of learning. This year I decided to continue the individualized learning approach I used last year in our unit on the Mongols, but I chose the communication medium beforehand: documentary film. Greedily, I wanted a broader audience for my students’ work, and I wanted an excuse to learn to make this sort of film. Here’s what we learned!
by John Norton | Dec 16, 2011 | Connected Leadership, Less Teacher, More Student, Passion Based Learning, Student Life, The How of 21st Century Teaching, Voices
In the discussion over learning styles and measuring achievements, it’s important to take into account what educators see first-hand in class. To get a sense of their perspective on the subjects, MindShift editor Tina Barseghian asked educators who are part of our Powerful Learning Practice “Voices from the Learning Revolution” group blog to weigh in on what they’ve observed in their classrooms. Here’s what they say.
