Classrooms are systems, schools are systems, and schooling in the United States is a big system. Changing any of those systems requires an awareness of how they work; what they produce; and where to apply time, energy, and resources. Current systems could be much better in meeting students' current and future needs. Student Relevance Matters: Why Do I Have to Know this Stuff? aims to clarify the most intrinsic reasons to learn, thereby bridging the gap between content and meeting student needs. This allows for compelling visions, and visions are the seed of learning. This book describes...

Rethinking Teaching is based upon one very simple idea - teachers teach people. That very simple idea is expressed as "Teachers as Collaborative Leaders." Teachers wishing to redefine how they work in the classroom must focus on three key ideas: 1) They must build and maintain relationships with and among their students, 2) They must view Content as the foundation for personal learning (not the end product), and 3) When people change (and learn), they get to keep much of what they already know and can do. Veteran teacher Mickey Kolis provides the background information to implement those...

Let's face it: learning is a high-stakes venture. True learning -- the kind that stays with students long after the grades are in -- requires risk. Ownership. Change. But what does it look like for students to really understand your subject? How can you structure assignments so that Googling becomes an asset, not a threat, to demonstrating knowledge? Veteran teacher Mickey Kolis invites you to reflect on how you "do learning" in your classroom. Real-life classroom examples demonstrate how you can shift the drive for learning into students' hands -- while still meeting your learning...

What is a game? You might think of cards and dice, computers, or sports. You might even think of music or theater as games. But what about Science? Games have rules, players, and objectives, but, maybe most importantly, games are fun. People play games because they think they are "fun," and sometimes they even learn some important lessons. Classrooms are intended to teach important lessons, and sometimes people think they are fun (not nearly often enough). Brainball (Science Edition) is designed to combine the best of both worlds Science Inquiry is the game and learning the intended outcome ...

What is a game? You might think of cards and dice, computers, or sports. You might even think of music or theater as games. But what about Science? Games have rules, players, and objectives, but, maybe most importantly, games are fun. People play games because they think they are "fun," and sometimes they even learn some important lessons. Classrooms are intended to teach important lessons, and sometimes people think they are fun (not nearly often enough). Brainball (Science Edition) is designed to combine the best of both worlds Science Inquiry is the game and learning the intended outcome ...