Upcoming Events
Visit to CHOICE Academy | May 1, 2024
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
MBLC Visit to CHOICE Academy
9:30 am -2:00 pm
Optional but encouraged, 15 guests max, max 2 guests per school
Visit focus: Collective staff efficacy
Register online: bit.ly/MBLCschoolvisitsMay2024
Youth Advisor Session | May 2 and May 9, 2024
Youth Advisor Session
Thursday, May 2 and Thursday, May 9 2024
12:00 p.m - 1:30 p.m PST
For MBLC Youth Advisors + 1 Adult Ally from Your School (virtual, and optional but encouraged)
In these sessions, MBLC middle school and high school youth advisors will learn more about the MBLC project goals, clarify their own roles as advisors within their schools, receive leadership and advocacy training, build community with learners across the member schools, and prepare for active roles at MBLC community gatherings in the winter (role-alike conversations) and spring (youth advisor panels. We ask that youth be accompanied by one adult ally per school. All youth sessions will be held virtually.
What will we do in our meetings?
Centering equity & youth voice
Understanding the MBLC project & youth advisor role
Building community and trust
Flexing and growing critical lens & leadership moves
Preparing for active presence at MBLC Community Gatherings in the Winter (online after school, role-alike conversation with other youth advisors) and Spring (in person youth panels for an audience of leaders and staff from member schools)
Who should sign up?
Middle and high school youth advisors from MBLC schools
One adult ally for each participating school, who joins youth advisors from their school in a supportive role
All sessions will be held during the school day, from 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Fall: Thursday, November 16, 2023
Winter: Tuesday, January 9 & Thursday, February 29, 2024 (2/29 newly added opt-in session for resource feedback)
Spring: Thursday, May 2, 2024 & Thursday May 9 (<< newly added opt-in panel debrief)
Spring Community Gathering [in-person] | May 7, 2024
In-person Spring Community Gathering
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Central Washington University, Student Union, 400 E. University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Featuring school-to-school share, mini-electives, and a youth advisor panel. Do your youth advisors want to be panelists? Let us know in this interest form by March 19.
Materials/Resources
Visit to Innovation Lab High School | May 15, 2024
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
MBLC Visit to Innovation Lab High School
9:00 am -2:00 pm
Optional but encouraged, 20 guests max, max 2 guests per school
Visit focus: Learner-centered school design
Register online: bit.ly/MBLCschoolvisitsMay2024
Professional Learning Communities (cohort 1) |
May 21, 2024
May 21, 2024
PLC Session 5 for Cohort 1
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
3:30 p.m - 5:00 p.m PST
In interest-driven groups, we will learn with and from each others' experiences, questions, and passions. We'll take a collaborative approach to exploring school change, principles and practices of culturally responsive-sustaining education & MBL, educational equity, and youth-/child-centered approaches—focusing on aspects that are of highest interest to the group. All PLCs will be held virtually.
What will we do in PLC sessions?
Our PLC is where we can talk shop and reflect, share resources and inspirations, talk through questions, and strategize about the complexities of our work—in community with school colleagues and folks from other MBLC member school teams.
Who should sign up?
Your school's MBLC team (or a minimum of 3-4 members). Each member of your MBLC team is invited to choose which interest-driven PLC to attend. MBLC team colleagues can decide if they want to be all together in one PLC, or spread out and share back to each other.
MBLC school principals are warmly welcome, but optional.
The Interest-driven PLC Choices are:
Project-based Unit/Assessment Design for MBL: This PLC will be a space where teachers can share learning, questions, dilemmas and successes in crafting project-based units or assessments. We will learn about and explore how to craft projects that are culturally responsive and that enable students to explore ideas and develop criticality while building academic skills. We also discuss and share ideas about how to integrate mastery-based approaches into projects.
Grading for Accuracy and Equity: This PLC will be a space where educators and school leaders can explore culturally responsive-sustaining, mastery-based approaches to feedback and grading. Participants will explore tools and systems together, discuss challenges and dilemmas, and share resources.
CRSE Foundations: This PLC will offer space to explore culturally responsive-sustaining education (CRSE). What does CRSE look like in classrooms and schools? How do CRSE and MBL interplay to benefit academic growth and wellbeing? What does CRSE call upon us to learn and unlearn? We'll look into these questions—and yours!—as we work with the three pillars of CRSE, and build capacity with key principles and practices of this powerful approach to effective, affirming, learner-centered school. (updated PLC focus)
Session Dates:
Please plan to join all 5 PLC sessions. This will help us with building connections and following through in a collective learning space. Thank you!
Tuesday, October 24, (first meeting in person as part of our Fall Gathering)
Tuesday, November 28, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 13, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 12, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 21, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Professional Learning Communities (Cohort 2 only) |
May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024
PLC Session 4 (Cohort 2): Principles & Practices of Learner-Centered CRSE/MBL
Monday, May 20, 2024
3:45 p.m - 5:15 p.m PST
This PLC is designed for Cohort 2 MBLC member school teams. These five online sessions will be both informative and highly interactive.
Come meet and learn with other schools in the new MBLC Cohort 2. We're excited to work with you.
We request each Cohort 2 school to register 3-4+ from your MBLC team as participants in all 5 sessions in this PLC series.
What will we do in PLC sessions?
Our PLC is where we can talk shop and reflect, share resources and inspirations, talk through questions, and strategize about the complexities of our work—in community with school colleagues and folks from other MBLC member school teams.
Who should sign up?
Your MBLC Cohort 2 school's MBLC team (or a minimum of 3-4 members).
Session Dates:
Please plan to join all 5 PLC sessions. This will help us with building connections and following through in a collective learning space. Thank you!
Monday, January 8, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Welcome & Intro to MBLC
Monday, February 5, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Principles & Practices of learner-centered CRSE/MBL
(Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education & Mastery-based Learning)Monday, March 11, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: MBLC Implementation Steps
Monday, April 22, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: Crafting your MBLC Work Plan & Budget
Monday, May 20, 2024 | 3:45-5:15 pm: School-to-School Share Out
To view and subscribe to the MBLC event calendar, complete with event details and Zoom links, please visit the MBLC Event Calendar page.
Contact Gwen Merrick at the Great Schools Partnership with any questions