Learning in the Lou

The first session I attended at Ed Camp this year about Project Based Learning specifically for gifted students. PBL is a way of teaching where students learn by working on a project over time to investigate and respond to real-life problems. The person leading the session shared an example where his 5th graders build dog houses for the local shelter that was in need. The students researched how big the dogs were, made a plan, built a paper prototype, made a cardboard revised model and then actually build real dog houses out of wood. Eventually, our conversation shifted to giving all students PBL options. Here are the tips and resources that I took away. Resources The bie.org- Buck Institute -Collaborate with librarian and other teachers -Invite community members in to speak about issues in the community -Prompt the presenter to ask your kids for help Tips Look at grade level standards and incorporate as many as possible into projects Questions to start PBL 50 things that...

One session I attended at Edcamp this year was about Sketchnoting. Sketchnoting is using simple images to associate with written notes. Students can create their own images or teachers can provide images in a graphic organizer for students to write in. Sketchnoting helps students remember the notes they took. Here is an example of a teacher provided graphic organizer: We also talked about having writable surfaces for students to sketch out their ideas. Writable surfaces include walls, tables, whiteboards, etc. For more inspiration follow this link to review the notes from the Sketchnoting session. -Liz Hughes

I know Saturdays can be kinda boring. Just hanging around the house doing things like laundry and cleaning. What if I told you there was an event you could attend that was unlike anything you had ever been to. What if that event was also free. Free breakfast and free lunch! We blogged about this event a while ago and thought now would be a good time to nudge you again. Sign up for edcampstl now! This event mirrors life. You get out of it what you put in. I have attended every Edcampstl and I never leave empty handed. I usually leave with 6-10 golden ideas that forever change my professional life. Not joking at all. Why not spend a few hours with us and see for yourself.

Come join some of your fellow Lindbergh teachers at this amazing event.   Sign up now before it is too late! I have attended the last few years and each year it gets better.  Think UnConference 3.0 but given by teachers across the St. Louis region.  Powerful conversations. Will you join us?

The free tickets to this event are slowly disappearing.   Sign up now before it is too late! Why should you sign up for this event?  The number one reason is this is unlike any event you have ever attended.  The sessions are not planned in advance and there is no keynote speaker.  This is more of a conversation around specific topics. I had the best time last year.  Will you join me? (The LiNC team also created a discussion and it was a pretty powerful experience.)