Weekly Report

Change Is Hard

Topics for this week include project based learning, parent/teacher dynamics, and initiating personal and professional change.

Jeremy Jorgensen

Jul 5, 2024 — 2 min read

Photo by Suzanne D. Williams / Unsplash

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The Friday Five

This week’s newsletter goes out while I attend Family Camp in Northern Wisconsin at YMCA Camp Jorn. Here are a few pictures from my favorite coffee-drinking spot. I’m grateful for family and good friends.

Here is this week’s Friday Five.

Have a great weekend!

1

Projects, Standards, and Student Engagement

Projects are highly engaging. Project-Based Learning (PBL) engages students deeply with academic standards through meaningful and creative projects. By aligning specific standards with different PBL models, teachers can ensure that students master the required skills while pursuing their interests and solving real-world problems. Effective PBL requires a thoughtful balance of direct instruction and student-led inquiry to create an authentic and enriching learning experience. Here are some projects and resources I’ve had success with in my classroom.

2

The Same Page

Teachers care deeply about their students, even when they don't always like their behavior. A concerned teacher reaches out to a parent, expressing worries about a student's future and the difficulties they face. She stresses the necessity of preparing children for a world that won't accept excuses or poor behavior. When teachers and parents are on the same page regarding preparing students for life after school, the results are powerful.

3

Change is Hard…But Possible

To initiate significant changes in teaching practices or life in general, it's important to reflect on personal fears, visualize successful outcomes, break down goals into manageable tasks, and maintain self-care. These steps can help educators both in and out of the classroom.

4

Don’t Complain

"What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it. Don't complain." —Maya Angelou (Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now*)