CO-LAB

Passion to Teach

The 2021-22 Passion to Teach Co-Lab is a selective cohort-based PD opportunity to work alongside peer teachers from across Massachusetts to implement and strengthen your skills and knowledge to provide learning that is project-based and student-centered while also integrating strong culturally responsive, future-focused practices.

In this Co-Lab teachers will:

• Build skills around project-based learning and developing curriculum that is engaging and standards-aligned.

• Gain support and inspiration to bring their personal passion into their classrooms in a way that is meaningful and exciting for their students…and for them!

• Grow alongside peer educators from across Massachusetts who will offer new perspectives, thoughtful feedback, and camaraderie.

• Join an affinity strand of their choice that allows them to deepen their practice and focus on Culturally Responsive Teaching, or College- Community- and Career-Engaged Classrooms.

• Create a shareable, peer-reviewed artifact so that other teachers and students can benefit from their experience and expertise.

  Co-Labs are not your typical PD. Learn more about past Co-Labs.

Past participants’ reflections on their experience:

How did Passion to Teach get started?

We began by asking a question: What would happen if teachers could bring their out-of-school passion into their classrooms?

We launched Passion to Teach with a small pilot cohort of teachers during the 2018-19 school year. Over the course of the year, they reflected on what brings them joy outside of teaching, made plans to bring that to their students in a rigorous, meaningful, and fun way, and worked throughout the year on building and refining curriculum and offering new and varied ways to learn together with their students.

What we learned reinforced our hopes: this type of work is invigorating for teachers and students. When teachers are given the tools to “dream big,” they produce amazing projects that are both joyful and full of learning for students. Teachers relish the chance to form connections with colleagues from different schools who can both push their thinking and support their vision by bringing new perspectives and offering actionable feedback. Teachers also need time and space to plan, reflect, and take advantage of community-based resources that will enhance learning.

Past projects have focused on everything from creating in-school gardens to learn about food supply chains, initiating a student-run greeting card businesses to build students’ life skills, building an in-school food pantry, using photojournalism with English Learners and even Zoom theater.

Learn the founding story of Passion to Teach from former teacher and inspirational visionary John Rowse:

Questions? Please email Teacher Collaborative Director of Programs Diana Lebeaux at diana@theteachercollaborative.org.