We've all heard of the 3 C's of learning, the 6 C's of Learning, or the top 7 C's our students need to be successful in the 21st century. There seems to be so many C words floating around, but my principal got me thinking when she said, "What about other words that don't start with a C?" Why can't we focus on the most important words for learning, instead of making them all be C words? I get it. Having them all be C words is helpful to memorize or remember. That got my mind

Connection. I need it. You need it. I believe we are made to connect with others. We thrive when we connect with others. We get encouragement from others and grow with others. We support and lift others up. And we are supported and others lift us up. I have connected with so many new people this year. It is exhilarating! It's given me a spark to continue to meet new people and try new things. I have connected through social media, meetings, church, and school. You name it. Bu

What does a natural learning environment look like to you? Is it indoors or outdoors? Stiff chairs or comfy chairs? Strict or flexible? How do you learn? What is comfortable to you? When I think of this, I think of my own children. When do they learn? Where do they learn? How am I presenting learning oppportunities to them? These thoughts came to me while I was listening to the Modern Learners podcast today. They were discussing Carol Black, who produced The Wonder Years, one

Project Based Learning. This is not just a teaching movement or the next 'new' thing. Project based learning (PBL) is how we function as adults in our jobs. We see a problem, we find ways to solve the problem, and we share/present/fix the problem. Why would we NOT help our students navigate through this process to best prepare them for their future? Watch this short video to learn more on Project Based Learning: click here Last year, I did a PBL project with a good friend. Sh

People watching. I don't know anyone who does not like to people watch. Observing actions, words, and how a person interacts with others gives you so much insight into their world. I am a bit nosey and always want to know where they're going, what they're doing, and what they're thinking. Do you observe your students like this? I have to admit, I am not the best at this. I am slowly getting better, but it's hard to put your 10 other things aside and just observe. So, I am mak

Ignite means to catch fire or cause to catch fire. Others have ignited a fire in me to grow, change, and evolve. My word for 2019 is 'ignite'. I want to ignite others by encouraging, celebrating, and pushing their thinking. I want to ignite a passion in my students for learning, questioning, and exploring. And I want to continue to ignite my own passion to grow and learn. As I look for ways to ignite others and myself in 2019, I find myself looking back on 2018. Over the summ