Posts by Joey Lee
Open Up, Education! 3 Takeaways on How Open Way Learning Can Transform Schools
From LiFT Learning’s Webinar Series Authors Adam Haigler and Ben Owens met when teaching at Tri-County Early College, an innovative NC High School focused on the development of skills through learner-led projects. It was there that Adam and Ben put theory to practice working with youth to create, collaborate, and innovate. Over dinner with friends,…
Read MoreScaffolding Strategies for K-12 Teachers: What You Need to Know
A teacher’s job is not simply presenting information for students to absorb, and teaching does not mean learning. An educator is responsible for ensuring that students develop an understanding of core concepts and themes as well as develop skills to transfer knowledge to new settings inside and outside of the classroom. And while teachers can…
Read More8 Strategies to Engage Students
Student engagement strategies, like those shared here, are designed to inspire teachers to empower their students with a goal of increasing attention, curiosity, and passion. Of course, student engagement is human engagement and people are complex at all ages. While these strategies can help to improve engagement, there is no single recipe or response that…
Read MoreRedefining Student Success
3 Takeaways with Ken Kay & Susie Boss Ken Kay and Suzie Boss have spent their careers working to develop and promote strategies, systems, and structures for schools and districts. Through their respective work at EdLeader21 and PBLWorks, countless educators have implemented learner-centered practices and strategies such as Project-Based Learning and Profile of a…
Read MoreWhat is project-based learning?
A Formal Definition of PBL In order to understand Project-Based Learning (PBL), it is helpful to begin with an agreed-upon definition. PBLWorks offers a research-informed model of Project-Based Learning, Gold Standard PBL, that identifies seven essential project design elements. Within this model, educators adopt a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by…
Read MoreMaslow Before Bloom
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Abraham Maslow created a hierarchy of needs that includes five tiers: physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. The two lowest tiers address basic needs such as food, water, shelter, safety, sleep, clean air, clothing, and warmth. When students’ basic needs are not being met, it is going to be a challenge…
Read MoreReigniting Energy and Passion in the Classroom with Student-led Learning
I was a deer in the headlights when I was first asked to come up with a question to drive my own individual research for a project that would later be presented to community members and fellow students. What would I focus on? What was important? What was I supposed to be learning from this…
Read MoreStudent-led Learning – The What and How
One of my early attempts at student-led learning was through an extracurricular program outside of the core classes I was responsible for teaching. The inspiration was rooted in introspection. I was experiencing more behavior issues in my core classes and, upon reflection, recognized why. I wasn’t involving students in the creation of our learning experience…
Read MoreStudent engagement in the classroom post-COVID-19
I recently read a blog by The Annie E. Casey Foundation called “Reengaging Students Who Lost Their Way During the Pandemic.” It reminded me of Josh. Josh was a student of mine a few years back, his reputation as a rebellious young man preceded him. Our class was primarily 9th graders and, at 18 years-old,…
Read MoreFrom Pandemic to Possibility: Now is the Time to Consider Competency-Based Education
By Ben Owens and Joey Lee This blog was originally featured on Getting Smart “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” From the time I first read this famous Stephen Covey quote in the late 1980s, I’ve always used it as my litmus test for deciding if an initiative I…
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