Cesar Chavez Elementary School, San Francisco
This team of six elementary school teachers hopes to create a culture of Project Based Learning using open-ended and collaborative projects to increase student engagement and language skills. They will also address diverse student needs and build self-esteem using strategies from Complex Instruction, an instructional approach that promotes equal-status interactions and builds self-esteem. Their professional development will be focused on the integration of academic content into engaging projects and on teaching methods to increase participation and promote language development. Team members will share learnings with their grade levels and create a more engaged and collaborative school community.