The Great Design Challenge: Introducing the MYP Design Cycle

Once again, I’m teaching grade 6 MYP Technology. This is my absolute favorite class to teach, and I’m looking forward to another fun year with our wonderful new sixth graders. One thing is very different this year, though. For the first time, ever, in my teaching career, I have a colleague who also teaches MYP…

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Students as Teachers: 6th Grade Tutorial Designers

For our second big project of the school year, my 6th grade MYP Technology class will be designing tutorials, inspired by Alan November’s presentation at our Bridging the Gap conference earlier this year. I’ve also noticed that a lot of our students struggle to learn without direct teacher instruction – they don’t seem to be…

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Beginning With Blogging

One of the best things about my new job is that I get to teach my own class, grade 6 MYP Technology (my favorite class to teach, actually). As much as I love coaching and working with lots of different teachers and students, there is just something special about having your own class to work…

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Making Change for a Quarter: Re-Envisioning 6th Grade IT

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been two full years since I taught my own technology classes. Of course I’ve done all sorts of co-planning and co-teaching in the last couple of years at ISB, but it’s certainly not the same as having your own group of students to work with. So, this year, in…

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A Workshop A Day

I am incredibly honored (and quite flattered) to be part of an amazing line-up of speakers at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS) this summer, thanks to Elizabeth Helfant and Patrick Woessner. Plus, as if it wasn’t exciting enough to be billed on the same event as Will, Karl, Alec, Darren, Dean,…

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