141. Getting Students Excited About Learning with Choice with Tanya King

There’s little worse than being told what you have to do, when you have to do it, and how. And especially when kids are involved, they’re pretty good at digging in their heels and refusing. Ask any parent or teacher!

But we’re still telling kids what they have to learn, how they have to learn it, and when. We’re doing a disservice to them and, frankly, to the teachers who have to follow the prescribed curriculum.

Thank goodness teachers like Tanya King exist. Teachers who are using data and proven strategies to break the mold and truly get students excited about learning. Tanya, an award-winning 6th grade teacher in Washington state, champions the idea of letting go of control and letting students lead their own learning. 

And what she’s doing works! With kids regularly making two school years’ of progress while in her care, they’re no longer missing school or checking out mentally because they’re bored or uninspired. She takes inspiration to the next level.

Listen in to find out how Tanya is doing it differently!

Tanya King, also known as Mrs. KB, is a 6th-grade teacher in the Edmonds School District. She is in her 22nd year of teaching, holds a BA in Elementary Ed, Special Education K-12, a Masters in Integrating Technology, and is National Board Certified. It is her mission to empower students to become lifelong learners and instill within them a belief they can reach any goal he/she sets for him/herself. By teaching students to believe in themselves and take ownership of their learning, her students know they can tackle any task. Students come to school because they have to; Mrs. KB has created a learner-driven class and kids come because they want to! Her mottos? Be the Captain of your Own Destiny! Live Limitless!

• [1:30] - Award winning teacher
• [1:59] - Extraordinary is “extra ordinary”
• [2:18] - How Tanya became a learner-centered teacher
• [3:10] - Fitting in the box doesn’t work as a kid or a teacher
• [3:20] - Lessons from rafting through the Grand Canyon
• [4:22] - What it looks like in Tanya’s classroom and the joy of controlled chaos
• [7:52] - Benefits of teachers letting go of control
• [11:03] - Data points that show student growth
• [15:42] - Kids aren’t sure how to approach this new environment
• [16:46] - If we’re not willing to try to change things, no one will make the change for us
• [17:45] - A few ways to shift away from rows to something more student-driven
• [18:18] - If you don’t have a why behind what you’re doing, find a different way
• [19:35] - Turbo Time
• [22:26] - The passion Tanya brings to learner-centered classrooms
• [23:05] - The best thing about working with tweens
• [24:43] - Tanya’s Magic Wand 
• [26:28] - Maureen’s Takeaways

• Lynnwood Times article about Tanya’s award
• iReady® Assessment
• Email Maureen

• Maureen’s TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools

• The Education Evolution
• Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
• Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
• LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
• EdActive Collective
• Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids

• Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
• The Micro-School Coalition
• Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
• LEADPrep