The Fearless Classroom

Students learn better when they aren't afraid to take risks and make mistakes. In this book, teacher and popular blogger Joli Barker shows you how to make K-8 students fearless in the classroom so they can engage in deeper learning. You'll discover how to abandon the notion of the teacher as the primary source of information, and instead create a classroom environment in which students can explore problems, test theories, and play games through curiosity, imagination, adaptability, and a passion for learning. Find out how to... - Create fearless learning environments - Engage in fearless planning and lesson design - Use fearless grading and assessments - Teach fearless gamification - Develop fearless parent relations and - Get students to ask fearless questions Throughout the book, you'll find suggested activities for science, social studies, language arts, and math, as well as tools such as rubrics to assist you on your journey.

Joli Barker is an elementary teacher in Texas. She is Microsoft in Education Master Educator and Global Forum winner. She was the 2013 Texas Computer Education Association's Classroom Teacher of the Year as the TCEA 2013 Classroom Teacher of the Year. She is also one of The National School Board Association's 2014 "20 to Watch" in education. She has a popular blog, The Fearless Classroom, and also does consulting work in schools.

Contents Meet the Author From the Author Preface Foreword Chapter One: Defining Fearlessness: Part One: The Fearless Educator Part Two: The Fearless Student Part Three: The Fearless Approach Part Four: The Fearless Administrator Chapter Two: Creating Fearless Learning Environments: ICAP Rotations ICAP: the Specifics Imagination Curiosity Adaptation Passion Chapter Three: Fearless Planning and Lesson Design Chapter Four: Fearless Grading Chapter Five: Fearless Assessing of Skills Chapter Six: Setting Fearless Goals Chapter Seven: Guide to Activities Lesson Design Rubrics Writing Reflections on Learning Getting Students to Ask Fearless Questions Science/Social Studies Language Arts/Reading Math Chapter Eight: Fearless Parent Relations Chapter Nine: Fearless Gaming in the Classroom Chapter Ten: Globalizing Your Classroom with Fearless Project-Based Learning