Life in the 21st Century Classroom – Meet Our New Best Practice Author

Get to know me, Libby Gray Brien: Middle School Teacher and OLE’s Newest Writer

As an educator, I am committed to maximizing student learning through relevant and engaging learning experiences. I believe education is headed for a much-needed major overhaul, and I’m willing to take learning down a nontraditional path. Follow my weekly blog to learn more about my experiences and expertise inside a 21st century classroom.

Where I’m Coming From

I am a science teacher in an urban public school, and I am proud of what I do. Teaching is a challenging, all-consuming profession and I am in love with it. I teach a diverse group of students, many of whom come to me with skill sets far below grade level. In my practice, authentic engagement is one of my highest priorities. Students who are engaged are learning and behaving.

My school has a history of not meeting its academic goals, and I have worked there the past two years in an effort to help struggling students prepare for high school and beyond. As an educator, I know that I need to try different approaches in order to meet the needs of my students. I am committed to change and willing to take risks.

What I’ll Write About

21st Century Learning

As a middle school teacher, I believe that a large part of my job is to not only educate my students on content, but help them build skills they will need for the rest of their lives. The best part about teaching skills like collaboration, communication, and technology is that students love it! It is easy for them to see the real-world application—and it is fun!

Best Practices

Most of my ideas are adaptations from teaching methods I learned from someone else. I will do my best to cite where I’ve learned things in an effort to provide you with more resources. Knowledge is power!

Innovative Education

It is no secret that public education has been in need of major reform. There are many educators committed to this movement, and I am one of them. If we want to improve public education, we need to be innovative, which is why I’m willing to try new things and constantly reflect and perfect.

Collaborate With Me

Teachers become better when they collaborate with and critique one another. Start a conversation with other teachers by responding to my blog posts. What has worked with your students? What questions do you have about executing the strategies I propose online? I don’t claim to know it all and would love to learn from you too!

Come back next week for an article on how to set up iPads for success in the classroom!