Columns & Articles

Place-based learning used to be the primary way we learned and is returning as an essential practice in and out of school. Young people are empowered to choose what they want to know about, which deepens their connection with their community and the world. 

Learn more about place-based learning in the June - July issue of Families First.

To be successful in any career (and in life), we need to be able to effectively share our thoughts and ideas with each other as part of a team,  with our supervisor, in a job interview, with the public, and in some cases in public. These are often called "soft skills" and employers say they are just as important to have as specialized skills. 

Developing Soft Skills

Having a problem-solver mindset and the persistence to follow through on ideas is something just about every employer desires to hire. STEM-focused industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, technology, trade, etc. required a skilled workforce and are having challenges filling these types of positions, both locally and nationally. Why? One significant reason is that problem-based learning is not yet available from an early age for all students. 

Creative Problem Solvers 

Even though my own daughter is halfway through her first year of "adulting", the lives of my friends and colleagues provide a window into the daily ups and downs of parenting school-aged children during a pandemic. Here are a few ideas and approaches they found helpful, and some resources you might not be aware of!

Curious Times

The Traverse Area District Library (TADL) has a new Student Success portal and a $14,000 joint grant with Newton's Road from the Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS) to increase the number of STEM kits available for hands-on learning at home. This grant will provide 200+ additional new STEM kits to students throughout the 5-county region via their local library. 

A New Doorway to Student Success