Teacher Labs: Making Professional Development Collaborative

Student-directed learning is at the heart at Birmingham Covington School, a suburban school of choice in Michigan. In a class called Thinkering Studio, students choose projects to pursue based on their passions, while in science literacy, they work in groups to research and solve real-world science problems in their community. Problem solving is interwoven into every class at this school for grades 3 through 8—instead of relying on their teachers when they need help, students turn to each other. The culture of collaboration and continual learning extends to the teachers as well—they visit each other’s classrooms and reflect on improving practice together.