Episode 63: Wonderful, Wonder-filled Classrooms for Any Age Group with Ashley Bible
Summary: <p>As educators, our goal is to have students learn, but what does learning actually look like? English teacher and workshop creator Ashley Bible has always felt like real learning doesn’t have the traditional look of students quietly sitting at a desk in rows; in fact, nowadays you’ll find her students striking yoga poses while performing close readings and creating art inspired by the literature instead of always writing about it. While her strong pedagogical beliefs didn’t align with the first district she was hired by and ultimately ended up costing her that position, Ashley’s ability to add the element of the unexpected to the high school English classroom appeals to students and is at the core of the resources she now designs and the professional development she offers for fellow educators.</p> <p>In our conversation with Ashley, we discuss how utilizing our creativity (and asking students to do the same) doesn’t mean that you need to sacrifice high standards or deeper, critical thinking. By reframing the same task in a slightly different way, we can spark students’ interest and make them feel like engaging with the content can be challenging while also being fun or relevant.</p> <p>In this episode, you’ll hear:</p> <p>-The exact, devastating feedback that Ashely received that no first-year teacher wants</p> <p>-How the vibe from a children’s bookstore inspired Ashley to network with like-minded educators— and eventually create an annual, in-person workshop for teachers</p> <p>-Why experiencing wonder shouldn’t be reserved for the elementary school crowd</p> <p>-A completely free, nearly zero prep time method of creating a classroom transformation</p> <p>-An easy to follow framework for adding wonder into any lesson— regardless of subject matter or grade level</p> <p>Links mentioned:</p> <p>Ashley's website:</p> <p><a href="https://buildingbooklove.com/">https://buildingbooklove.com/</a></p> <p>Ashle'ys TpT store: </p> <p><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Building-Book-Love">https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Building-Book-Love</a></p> <p>Ashley's blog: </p> <p><a href="https://buildingbooklove.com/blog/">https://buildingbooklove.com/blog/</a></p>
