IBL has a broad definition and varied implementation. It is generally characterized by a student-centered learning experience, with little to no lecturing.

When I told my fifth-grade class that they were old enough to take charge of their own learning, something unexpected happened.

Starting to feel slightly worn out in my current role, I wanted to avoid burning out altogether, so decided that it was time for a change.

I have lost count of the number of times I have been told that rules without relationships lead to rebellion. Yet today, relationships with students seem to be feared instead of embraced. Over the years, quite by accident, I have discovered that this precept from days gone by is critical to classroom rules and to learning itself. Relationships are an essential part of learning, especially relationships between teachers and students.

In my classes I use a team-structured, project-based approach to teach history and civics. It’s an approach that covers nearly all the bases.

Throughout my years of teaching, I’ve discovered that students are often more eager to read and discuss horror stories than other material.

Waynesboro Education Farm is an ambitious project. It sits on 1.5 acres of land adjacent to Berkeley Glenn Elementary school in the city of Waynesboro, VA.

As the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide approached in April 2014, I took it as an opportunity to teach my students about this horrific and tragic event.

I believe it is vital for some form of investment education, along with the other elements of financial literacy, to exist in every school. In every classroom.