Zach Groshell BLE, Education, iPad, Learning, Portfolio, relationships, Student, technology

A Different Kind of Student-Led Conference

Student-led conferences are all the rage right now, and rightfully so. They provide another opportunity for students to take control of their learning. The thing is, before public, shared, nonlinear digital portfolios, it made a ton of sense to bring parents into the classroom just so they could flip through the pages of their child's … Continue reading A Different Kind of Student-Led Conference

Zach Groshell BLE, Creativity, differentiation, Education, Inquiry, iPad, Learning, motivation, PD, Play, relationships, Student, Teachers, technology

“The What” vs. “The How” of Education

After reading the above tweet, I've been thinking a lot about this idea that we may very well spend too much time talking about what we should teach rather than how we should teach. And the more I think about it, the more I crave conversations that concern the how of education. Learning-focused conversation is learner and … Continue reading “The What” vs. “The How” of Education

Zach Groshell BLE, differentiation, Education, iPad, Math, motivation, technology

5 reasons to Drop Math Worksheets and Use “Smart” Online Programs

To learn a new math skill well, we know that students need to get adequate practice with it – successfully answering a number of problems before considering the skill mastered. Traditionally, students have gotten this practice with photocopied worksheets or a textbook. However, with the technology we now have, online “smart” programs like IXL do … Continue reading 5 reasons to Drop Math Worksheets and Use “Smart” Online Programs

Zach Groshell BLE, Creativity, differentiation, Education, Inquiry, iPad, Learning, motivation, Pastoral Care, relationships, Student, Teachers, technology

How to Set Up a Week of Free Inquiry for Anywhere, Anytime Learning

When I was just a first year teacher, I placed a lot of value on my ability to control student behaviors. While students were quiet and well-behaved to the passing observer, I could sense that I was not facilitating the kind of learning experiences that I wanted from my teachers during my own education. The … Continue reading How to Set Up a Week of Free Inquiry for Anywhere, Anytime Learning

Zach Groshell BLE, differentiation, Education, iPad, Learning, technology

How can Moodle be used in Elementary?

My current international school is an extremely forward thinking institution with its heavy emphasis on C21 learning, including blended and personalized learning concepts and ideas. While there are many adopted technologies in our school, such as Seesaw for portfolio and social media use, our school-wide LMS is a Moodle-based platform called KICSLearns. While most people are familiar … Continue reading How can Moodle be used in Elementary?

Zach Groshell Education, motivation, Pastoral Care, Portfolio, relationships, Student

A Letter to My Student About Goal Setting, Body Image, and Healthy Living

I've talked about goal-setting before on educationrickshaw.com, including the SMART model. As my school nears Student Led Conferences, using Seesaw as our digital portfolio, my students have all set goals to achieve during the remainder of their time under my care. While most of my students chose goals centered on improving in a particular academic … Continue reading A Letter to My Student About Goal Setting, Body Image, and Healthy Living

Zach Groshell Education, Language, motivation, Play, relationships, Student

Kids should read a book and build a freaking fort

Motivating kids to become lifelong readers is every teacher's goal, but I'll be the first to admit to having to resort to crummy prizes and rewards, including candy and toys, to get kids to read a book. In this short post, I want to offer a fun alternative: The blanket fort. Set a goal with … Continue reading Kids should read a book and build a freaking fort

Zach Groshell Education

C21 Pen Pals: The Global Classroom Project

Every year of teaching I've done a version of pen pals. Here is the evolution up until this year: v.1.0 Handwritten letters sent by post v.2.0 Grainy pictures of handwritten letters sent by e-mail as PDF v.3.0 Typed letters collected on Google Docs and sent by e-mail v.4.0 Typed letters sent directly to pen pals … Continue reading C21 Pen Pals: The Global Classroom Project

Zach Groshell Education

Connected Blogs Redefine Learning

This week my class did their final assessment for our archaeology unit. They picked an artifact, researched it, replicated it, wrote a description of it, translated that description into their home language, and presented everything at a classroom museum for parents and other classes to come see. Amazing learning took place, but that’s where it … Continue reading Connected Blogs Redefine Learning

Zach Groshell BLE, Creativity, Education, Learning, PD, Teachers, technology

5 Books To Start a Book Club for Teachers

There is something special about book clubs that you don't get from other forms of teacher PD. I love the feeling of finally being able to share what I've read with a group of likeminded individuals, all of whom have a different perspective on the same source material. In book clubs, everyone comes in as … Continue reading 5 Books To Start a Book Club for Teachers