What is the difference between a project and Project Based Learning? As a professional development facilitator for Project Based Learning, I get this question a lot. In fact, one of the biggest hurdles teachers face when they are getting started with PBL is how to implement a Project Based Learning unit without it becoming a […]

Let me start by saying I have downloaded PBL units from free websites and have even purchased a few. But it is very difficult to maintain the authenticity of a PBL unit and follow another facilitator’s plans.  Here are 3 of my personal reasons to avoid downloading PBL units. 1. Project Based Learning cannot be […]

How can parents help with PBL? How do we build parent support for PBL (Project Based Learning) in our classrooms? By utilizing and informing the caring adults that raise and encourage our students, we can increase engagement and involvement. According to an article in “Public School Review,” parent involvement leads to better classroom behavior and […]

1. Begin With the End in Mind As you are planning your PBL unit, consider the possible outcomes students might arrive at. The culminating event should answer the driving question and be student-directed. But, you as the facilitator can plant seeds to guide students towards the event you hope they will choose to answer the […]

As elementary PBL facilitators, we often need help coming up with ideas for PBL units. Here are 3 roads that I often take to find inspiration for PBL units. 1. Students Because students are the driving force behind any quality PBL unit, why not start with their interests, ideas, and topics of conversation as inspiration […]

Community partners play many different roles in Project Based Learning units. As a PBL facilitator and now an instructional coach, I have witnessed firsthand the most effective ways to utilize a community partner in quality and authentic unit. 1. Entry Event When I taught 1st Grade, we loved using community partners to come in and […]

Once you determine who will be “driving” the creation of your Driving Question, writing it can seem like a daunting task. As teachers, we are natural perfectionists. We want to meet the requirement of any request and follow the steps laid out before us. Our students’ well-being is always at the front of our minds, so […]

The phrase “Failing Forward” from John C. Maxwell’s book, by the same title, has taken the education community by storm. But what does it mean to “Fail Forward?” How can we as Project Based Learning teachers utilize this idea to help support our students? Below are a few ideas and thoughts from my years as […]

E-learning can present many challenges. Chief among these is the struggle to find resources to help us with a specific instructional goal that effectively supports distance learning.  Below are resources listed underneath the instructional purpose best supported by these digital tools. 1. Whole Group Discussions, Lessons, & Morning Meetings First, ask yourself if you want to have […]

Do you dream of a classroom library that would make Belle delirious with nerdy joy? As a teacher living on a teacher’s salary, it is challenging to grow your classroom library. Here are 9 quick tips that helped me gather THOUSANDS of texts for my library. 1. Advertise your quest to ALL Post on your […]