EP 24 Why Student Choice, Project-Based & Personalized Learning Work for At-Risk Students

Eileen Zygarlicke says Grand Forks Community School is the best kept secret in Grand Forks. Her pride in the school and passion for teaching are evident the minute you meet her.

Mrs. Z, as the students call her, has been teaching at Grand Forks Community School for around 16 years. She works with at risk students, but is quick to point out that at risk sometimes simply means the students don’t fit into a traditional classroom setting.

Zygarlicke teaches English and uses student choice project based learning to personalize learning for her students. She says four of the seven children in her family are English teachers, and while her plan was to become a writer (she freelanced for awhile) the classroom called her back and she’s been teaching ever since.

In this episode Zygarlicke explains how she teachers her students to think, and how student choice has lead to better results.

We will also hear from one of her students. Austin Moen says he was active in high school but struggled with school after his brother died in an snowmobile accident. He says he decided to attend Grand Forks Community School and things have been going great since he made the switch.


Resources:

http://www.ndplaylist.org

http://www.ndunited.org/thecuttinged

https://www.grandforksherald.com/opinion/letters/3887765-letter-teacher-thank-you-grand-forks


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