In this S5E15 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, join me with teacher and author Sarah M. Zerwin as she shares strategies from her book Step Aside: Strategies for Student-Driven Learning with Secondary Readers and Writers (Illustrated by Jane Zerwin).
🚗 The Driving Course Metaphor: Student-driven learning isn't about abandoning students—it's like teaching someone to drive. You don't toss them the keys; you sit beside them, teach the rules, create a safe course, and strategically step back while staying present.
📝 The Power of the Humble Post-it Note: Discover how Original Thought Annotations (OTAs) using simple sticky notes can revolutionize student engagement, classroom belonging, and student motivation. Students write "I noticed... I think..." and build complex thinking from small observations.
🎯 The Three Step Meaning Making Process:
1️⃣Start Small (notice details through OTAs)
2️⃣Seek Connections (through rambling writing and discussion)
3️⃣Take Action (apply thinking to authentic work)
Resources:
- Pointless by Sarah Zerwin
- The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer
- Reading With Presence by Marilyn Pryle
- A Novel Approach by Kate Roberts
- The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop by Felicia Rose Chavez
- The Quickwrite Handbook by Linda Rief
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction: Working Harder Than Your Students?
1:00 Meet Sarah Zerwin and Step Aside
3:00 Parker Palmer & The Third Thing
5:00 The Driving Course Metaphor
8:00 Phantom Policies We Don't Need
12:00 Collaborating with Jane
15:00 The Humble Post-it Note Revolution
17:00 Original Thought Annotations (OTAs)
20:00 Building Thinking from Small Observations
23:00 The 3-Step Meaning-Making Process
26:00 Start Small: What Students Notice
28:00 Seek Connections: Rambling & Discussion
32:00 Take Action: Thinking into Learning
34:00 Evolution from Pointless
36:00 Learning Progressions
38:00 Student-Generated Goals Using AI
42:00 Lightning Round
44:00 Misconceptions About Student-Driven Learning
46:00 Where Can You Step Aside?
48:00 Final Invitation
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.