Hi, I'm Karen Elaine!
- Visionary Implementer & Redesigner of Educational Leadership
- Deeper Learning Curriculum Designer
- Musician Committed to Inclusivity & Wholeness 🎵
- Teacher, Director, Mentor, Coach & "Mother of Mothers" for 27 years
Projects
Culturally Inclusive Communities
Interdisciplinary California History Project. Discover how California's history provokes us to live our lives more inclusively. Through exploring how people are valued, researching how Natives lived sustainably off of the land, and being amazed at the inequities, mistreatment of people, and paradoxical excitement and beauty of California’s expansion, learners developed a critical lens for noticing perspectives. 3D models and Minecraft tours of 2 cultural communities combined into a dream of how we can do history better are displayed. You will see a blending of art, religion, land use, and innovation in multiple cultures that includes everyone. Come and try out our simulation of how erosion & climate affect house engineering and architecture planning! Finally, take an inclusivity quiz.
Colossal Question:
Are you inclusive?
Do you listen to people's stories and perspectives?
Are you able to notice the outliers in your work and lives and invite them?
Sustainable Car Project
Interdisciplinary Science research project
Students designed a car that showed the sustainable energy used for power. They used graphic design to create a For Sale flyer displaying at least 2 renewable sources, 5-6 figure cost breakdown, check writing, and a written proposal sent to a car company.
Colossal Questions:
How can I design a car that improves our local and world environment?
Does it cost more to create a world changing car? Does it have to?
Building a Relational Culture
Connect Time all school video clip for K-8th grades. Using music to teach the value of being open and vulnerable with each other. The power of recorded video in the classroom is fantastic. Used in both on campus environments and in virtual school environments, video provides access to feelings and a chance to replay and watch again.
American Indian Living
Interdisciplinary California Natives Project Colossal Questions:
How did American Indians use natural resources to survive?
How can we preserve the culture and history of the Kumeyaay and educate the public?
What can we learn from the Kumeyaay lifestyle and culture that we can apply to our current lives for a more sustainable future?
Name-tag Redesign
Interdisciplinary Learning Styles Project
Students redesigned a typical name plate using the Design Thinking Process to include what they researched as they identified and owned their learning style. Auditory, Visual, Reading/Writing, or Kinesthetic! They've used these all year, and have become empowered to continue to advocate for HOW they learn.
Musical Morning Meeting
3rd-5th grades having connect time involving social emotional work. Students are learning to be inclusive and vulnerable as they open up to being known.
K-8th Music Curiosity Class
I started a class for any age student to learn how to play notes, chords or beats on an instrument of their choice. They learned how to add value in a band, write a song, record and perform It! Guest experts joined us to help expose and teach students about sound equipment & recording.
