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The Making Schools Work Podcast
Join us each week as we talk to different SREB team members and educators across the country to find out the latest in school innovations. From classroom instruction to school leadership, we are going to examine what it is that makes schools work!
The Making Schools Work Podcast
Designing Meaningful Projects: Making Project-Based Learning Work in the Classroom
In this episode of Class-Act Coaching, Ashley is joined by Marty Sugerik, an instructional coach with a passion for project-based learning (PBL). Marty shares practical coaching strategies to help teachers design or refine classroom projects that connect to real-world skills.
Whether you’re a coach supporting teachers in PBL or an educator looking to strengthen your own projects, this conversation is packed with hands-on strategies for making learning more engaging and meaningful.
Key Topics Covered:
- How instructional coaches can help teachers start or refine a PBL unit
- The importance of authenticity—connecting projects to real-world work
- Scaffolding student success within project-based learning
- Coaching strategies for helping teachers overcome common PBL challenges
- The role of feedback and reflection in making projects better over time
Resources Mentioned:
Don’t Miss:
- Marty’s advice on balancing structure and student choice in project design
- Real-life coaching stories about helping teachers bring PBL to life
- A step-by-step coaching framework for guiding teachers through project creation
📘 Homework Challenge: If you’re a teacher, take a current unit and brainstorm how it could be turned into a project with a real-world connection. If you’re a coach, work with a teacher this week to refine a project idea!
The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.
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