In a different way of thinking about addressing the dropout crisis, Elliot Washor and Charles Mojkowski of Big Picture Schools (10) suggest connecting students with the world outside the classroom as a better way to foster success inside school. In Leaving to Learn: How Out-of-School Learning Increases Student Engagement and Reduces Dropout Rates (11), they explain why internships, travel, service learning, and other real-world experiences give students more reason to care about what they are learning and why it matters
Deanna Casiano on 20 Jun 13Summer break is a lot of things for teachers. It's a needed and well-deserved respite from the classroom grind - no papers to grade, no calls from parents, no staff meetings or students to tend to. But it's not all rest and relaxation. Most teachers, especially younger educators, will portion off a good chunk of their three-month classroom hiatus to hone their craft, revise and rewrite lesson plans, and familiarize themselves with the latest tools and educational technologies in preparation for the school year ahead. Looking for a few ways to step up your teaching game next fall? Here's a list of professional development (PD) resources to get you going this summer.
