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Middle Grades Review: Channeling John Dewey

In John Dewey’s educational framework, the process and product are inseparable; achieving democratic ends cannot result from undemocratic means. For him, the full humanization of people depended not upon externally imposed curriculum and management systems, but rather on responding to the intrinsic needs, interests, and powers of the individual to be educated.

Dr. Dena Simmons highlights 2021 Middle Grades Conference

The 2021 Middle Grades Conference featured Dr. Dena Simmons as keynote speaker and concurrent sessions featuring the extraordinary work of middle level educators.

The 4 E's of Teaching in a Pandemic

How can we engage, empathize, encourage, and plan for inequity while teaching through a pandemic? Reflections and considerations from a middle level educator.

Project Based Learning and the Three Pillars

Proficiency Based LearningPersonal LearningReflection

Project Based Learning and the Three Pillars of Personalized Learning This blog post is from from Kevin Hunt, a contributor to PLP Pathways and teacher in the Swift House, Williston Central School. We’re…

PBL: Our Year in Review

Reflection

As we come to the close of another year and it seems like everywhere I look I am seeing the best-of lists. Spotify is full of year in review playlist and Instagram is flooded with decade challenge posts.…

Student Led Conferences

ConferencesStudent Centered Learning

Today’s blog post is from PLP Pathways Contributor Kevin Pioli-Hunt of Williston Central School’s Swift House.Student-Led Conferences.....…this practice is the biggest breakthrough in communicating about…

Reading Goals as a Means to Practice Goal Setting

Meg O’Donnell, Shelburne Community SchoolStarting out this year as a new team, with new teammates and new (to me) students, we had the opportunity and challenge of establishing our structure and organization…

Setting Goals with Students: Tips and Strategies

“Goals can have a powerful impact on how we live our lives. They require us to engage in the entire constellation of stances (empathy, flexibility, persistence, resiliency, and optimism) as we set and…

PLP Pathways Webinar 1 -- First Take

PLP Pathways kicked off our fifth season of professional development by teachers, for teachers, with our first webinar on September 26. We focused on the implementation of Act 77 and personalized learning…

PLP Pathways: Equity Literacy, Act 77 and Professional Development

This past summer, over 125 middle-level educators gathered at the 2019 Middle Grades Institute which focused on the theme of Advancing Equity in the Middle Grades. PLP Pathways is committed to sustaining…

PLP Pathways: Refocusing on Equity, Act 77 and Professional Development

With a new school year underway, PLP Pathways is excited to begin our fifth year of supporting Vermont's educators in the implementation of Act 77. This year we will be strengthening our core professional…

2018-2019 In the Rearview Mirror

Today’s post is brought to you by Don Taylor, language arts and social studies teacherat Main Street Middle School in Montpelier and co-director of PLP Pathways.IntroductionThe PLP Pathways collaborative…