Educators Blog

Helping Students Build Essential Financial Literacy Skills

In many schools across the country, we are starting to see an increased focus on the importance of financial literacy. April is Financial Literacy Month, a time to focus on helping students develop essential skills that will be an important part of […]

Engaging Middle School Students in Deeper Learning with Career-Connected PBL

In today's digital age, student engagement is more of a challenge than ever before. Elizabeth Kreutzer, Middle School Science Teacher and Science Department Chair at Loch Raven Technical Academy in Baltimore City Public Schools, discusses her […]

It's Time for Curriculum Mapping 3.0

The curriculum mapping process ensures comprehensive education over time. In this article, Jay McTighe proposes a new process for curriculum mapping, emphasizing authentic performance tasks over content input. This shift aims to engage students, […]

The Benefits of College and Career Readiness for Middle School Students

Regardless of our role in education or the grade levels that we work with, we all have a responsibility to bring in a variety of learning opportunities to prepare our students for successful careers. They need to engage in learning that will […]

Equitable Literacy Through a PBL Lens Part 3: Explicit Instruction & Text-Based Writing

This is the third in a series of three blogs focused on Equitable Literacy Instruction supported through Defined Learning and Project-Based Learning processes.

Writing instruction is sometimes viewed as the English teacher’s job. After all, aren’t […]

How We’ve Re-“Defined” Social Studies with Project-Based Learning

In this article, John Larmer discusses the challenges of making social studies engaging for students. Larmer delves into Defined Learning's social studies offerings, providing example tasks across grade bands and units. John also offers tips for […]

Social Studies and Art Projects for Women’s History Month

Inspire and engage students during Women's History Month and beyond with these social studies and art projects centered around the history, successes, and accomplishments of women.

Need some project ideas for Women’s History Month this March? […]

Equitable Literacy Through a PBL Lens Part 2: Daily Work with Enabling & Complex Text

This is the second in a series of three blogs focused on Equitable Literacy Instruction supported through Defined Learning and Project Based Learning processes.

Imagine walking into a classroom where students are working with a variety of […]

Equitable Literacy Through a PBL Lens Part 1: Intentional Knowledge, Language Activation & Importance of Instruction

This is the first in a series of three blogs focused on Equitable Literacy Instruction supported through Defined Learning and Project Based Learning processes.

Advancements in brain science have provided a fresh look at instructional choices that […]

Transforming Social Studies Education with STEM, PBL & Real-World Connection

Learn how Eli Rollman, a 7th-grade social studies teacher at Creekland Middle School in Cherokee County School District in Northwest Georgia, implemented STEM-based PBL focused on the 4 C’s and connecting content to real-world problem-solving.

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