Making Learning Joyfully Rigorous for Students

Our society is facing some big problems right now, including global conflicts, racism and bias, political polarization, climate change, an epidemic of loneliness, and a national mental health crisis.

Is school providing the 74.6 million children under the age of 17 in the United States with the learning experiences they need right now to address these challenges? Are adults listening to youth voices as we search for solutions?

At Inspired Teaching, we're tackling these issues head-on. We believe curiosity is the antidote to assumption and prejudice, the highest form of respect, and the best starting point for learning everything from chemistry to writing to history.

 Here’s an overview of Inspired Teaching’s progress this fall in building curiosity, and making school a better place:

We began the school year with a series of live-streamed conversations on the importance of building and nurturing school connectedness. Joined by experts on education, community, and asset framing, Inspired Teaching explored practical ways teachers, school leaders, and parents can create connections in the classroom and beyond.

We also kicked off the ‘23-24 Inspired Teaching Institute, Real World History, and Speak Truth programs. From interactive professional development for educators everywhere to student-led programs for DC-area high school students, Inspired Teaching continues our commitment to shifting education from compliance-based to engagement-based and fueling curiosity in students and their teachers.

In addition to staying busy locally, Inspired Teaching recently announced the launch of a multi-year project to bring the Inspired Teaching Approach to teachers and school leaders in Ukraine alongside Osvitoria, the leading education NGO in Ukraine. Beginning in August with a three-day online Institute for over a thousand Ukrainian teachers, we will continue to bring the Inspired Teaching Approach to educators as they navigate war and build the foundation for the future of education in Ukraine.

And, in between leading professional development programming in Washington, DC; connecting with education leaders around the world; and sharing insights, resources, and activities every week in Hooray For Monday; I was thrilled to head to Helsinki in late October for the HundrED Innovation Summit. There, Inspired Teaching and our ABCDE of Learner Needs framework was honored as part of the HundrED Global Collection 2024.

As the calendar year nears its end and we focus our curiosity on 2024, I hope you too have time to reflect on your accomplishments — and prepare for all the learning to come!