Van Andel Institute for Education student engagement Archives

19 Jan 2022

Gaming: The Universal Language

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Tags21st century skills, classroom culture, connection, education, innovation, lesson planning, math, strategies, student choice, student engagement

*Today’s blog is a guest post by Emily Gillain. “Ms. Gillain, what are we doing for math today?” a student asks on...

14 Jan 2022

Growing Students through Fast Feedback

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Tags21st century skills, classroom management, critical thinking, education, innovation, lesson planning, relevance, strategies, student engagement, Terra Tarango

Have you ever watched a student’s face after you’ve given them positive feedback on their performance or behavior? I have. Their reactions...

5 Jan 2022

Ice Cream for Dinner and Encouraging Play

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TagsBen Talsma, Blue Apple, classroom culture, classroom management, creativity, education, Growth Mindset, lesson planning, stress, student engagement

Should you ever eat ice cream for dinner at school? I never used to think so; I’m still not sure I do. But...

17 Dec 2021

Infusing Creativity in Math

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Tagsassessment, Blue Apple, creativity, education, Jamie MacPherson, math, relevance, Ryan Duncan, strategies, student engagement

I’ll be honest, I have never liked Math. As a student, it was the one subject I could never find an ounce...

13 Dec 2021

The Importance of Holiday Cards

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TagsBlue Apple, creativity, education, Empathy, inspiration, lesson planning, relevance, Ryan Duncan, student engagement, teaching profession

This past weekend, I spent the afternoon writing Holiday cards. I never thought I’d be the type of person who sends out...

10 Dec 2021

Reflections on Student Engagement

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Tags21st century skills, classroom culture, connection, curiosity, education, Growth Mindset, inspiration, Ryan Duncan, student engagement, teaching profession

Recently, Van Andel Institute for Education began welcoming students back to in-person learning at our main building. We’ve all been cautious; masks...

6 Dec 2021

You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

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Tagsauthenticity, creativity, education, inquiry, lesson planning, perseverance, relevance, Ryan Duncan, student engagement, teaching profession, Terra Tarango

I’ve written before about how much I love the holiday season, but if I’m being honest, this is only half the story....

3 Dec 2021

Celebrate the Season with STEAM

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TagsBlue Apple, classroom culture, education, relevance, Ryan Duncan, STEM, strategies, student choice, student engagement, teaching profession

I love the holiday season. I don’t often show it, but I can’t help but get swept up in the spirit of...