Extraordinary Learning

The blog posting A Standards Movement in the Spirit of Expeditionary Learning was the most interesting blog posing of the four. It talked about changes in Common Core State Standards (CCSS) that allowed for PBL to be incorporated into instruction more easily. This is something I have always wondered about when it comes to Problem Based Learning, how do you include the content into field work and include state or national standards at the same time? It is nice to see standards be changed in order to facilitate this sort of learning. The project in this blog is great example of culturally responsive teaching in the following ways:

• Build bridges of meaningfulness between home and school experience.
  --The students were studying water samples from a local creek. Using a location that is central to the students lives is very meaningful. 
• Teach students to know and praise their own and each others' cultural heritages.
  --Everyone in the class is connected this location so a sense of connectedness if likely to be felt.