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Laura Thomas

@criticalskills1.bsky.social

530 followers 680 following 180 posts

Core Faculty Antioch University, Edutopia Community Facilitator & Consulting Editor & ISTE Community Leader. Author, mom, gardener, and aspirational yogi http://antioch.edu/faculty/laura-thomas

Videos

Education 33%

Psychology 19%

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Pinned

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Nov 19

I should make a pinned post. I've been teaching since 1993- faculty at @auneeducation.bsky.social since 2002. I teach in & direct our Masters Degree program for working teachers- ExEd. antioch.edu/exed Mostly I work with our PBL/SEL program- the Critical Skills Classroom. antioch.edu/csc

MEd for Experienced Educators › Antioch University

Program Overview Concentrations Additional Information Admission Start your Antioch Journey Faculty Application Deadlines Tuition & Financial Aid Cost MEd for Experienced Educators Home › Program Find...

antioch.edu

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Reposted by Laura Thomas

Edutopia @edutopia.org · 1d

Early-career teachers: Looking for classroom management tips, assessment ideas, and pointers for working with parents?

Our Starter Pack of Resources for New Teachers has it all! ✨

#EduSky #NewTeachers

A Starter Pack of Resources for New Teachers

We’ve gathered some of the best resources for new teachers in one place!

edut.to

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Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · 2d

I’m at an actual in person conference today- presenting and sitting at a booth for Antioch University. It’s the fall instructional conference from @neanh.bsky.social A small but might group of educators meeting face to face. It’s absolutely DELIGHTFUL! #EduSky🍎

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · 8d

I love my job- the people are amazing, I like the work, and generally we’re on the right side of history, organizationally speaking. Knowing I won’t get fired for posting wildly controversial things like “don’t zip tie children” & “facism is bad” is really just icing on the cake, you know?

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · 8d

Nice

a woman wearing glasses and earrings says and that 's how it 's done

ALT: a woman wearing glasses and earrings says and that 's how it 's done

media.tenor.com

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · 8d

I graded ALL the papers that came in this week!! #EduSky #Teachers

a woman wearing overalls is making a funny face with a pen in her mouth .

ALT: a woman wearing overalls is making a funny face with a pen in her mouth .

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Laura Thomas

Edutopia @edutopia.org · 11d

⚡🎧 Our 2nd School of Practice podcast episode is out!

In this week’s show, we tackle a classic teacher dilemma: DESK LAYOUTS.

Is there one to rule them all?

Ep 2: A Flexible Seating Arrangement That Teachers Love

Is there an ideal desk layout—easy to adapt for most class sizes and learning activities?

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Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · 28d

I’ve had a record number of these in my garden this year plus more bees than I’ve seen in years. Apparently tickseed and blue top vervain (I think that’s what that is?) are their favorites. 🌱

Monarch butterfly on a purple flower. Black eyed Susans in the background

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Aug 19

Everything in this vase started its life as a seed 🌱under my grow lights in February, which makes me inappropriately happy. #Garden

A vase filled with zinnias and lisianthus in pinks, oranges, and cream.

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Aug 7

Routines, language, events, projects, or processes that become part of the identity of your class. Sometimes they carry over from year to year, sometimes they’re unique to a single class.

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Aug 7

Speak to me of classroom rituals and traditions, #EduSky 🍎

What are your favorites?
How do you find time for them in when there's so much to do?

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Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 18

(Not that I’m condoning actual elephant eating. For these purposes, let’s consider this a life-size chocolate elephant.) 🐘

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 18

You know how to eat an elephant, right?

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 17

Big problems aren’t so hard if you break them into pieces.

Edutopia @edutopia.org · Jul 17

Educators @criticalskills1.bsky.social and Nelia Rath explain how to teach chunking as a skill to help students tackle messy problems: edut.to/3GrwlOD

#EduSky #PBL #MiddleSchool #HighSchoolTeacher

“Be they academic or social, the world is full of big, messy problems, and we want our students to be able to sort them out into manageable chunks. And when we as teachers make solving big problems a regular part of our classroom routine and culture, we’ll see students develop into humans who aren’t overwhelmed by the scope of a project or the complexity of a team.” —Laura Thomas & Nelia Rath, Educators

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Reposted by Laura Thomas

Edutopia @edutopia.org · Jul 17

Educators @criticalskills1.bsky.social and Nelia Rath explain how to teach chunking as a skill to help students tackle messy problems: edut.to/3GrwlOD

#EduSky #PBL #MiddleSchool #HighSchoolTeacher

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Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 15

I’m lucky to work with great people

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 15

I had so much fun writing this!!

Edutopia @edutopia.org · Jul 15

Teaching students how to break a project into manageable pieces can:

🤝 Build collaboration and problem-solving skills
🎒 Increase student ownership
🌼 Cultivate rich classroom community

@criticalskills1.bsky.social and Nelia Rath share a how-to guide.

#EduSky #PBL #MiddleSchool #HighSchoolTeacher

Teaching Students to Use Chunking to Tackle Complex Problems

Middle and high school teachers can show students how to break projects into smaller parts to support their ability to manage their work.

edut.to

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Reposted by Laura Thomas

Edutopia @edutopia.org · Jul 15

Teaching Students to Use Chunking to Tackle Complex Problems

Middle and high school teachers can show students how to break projects into smaller parts to support their ability to manage their work.

edut.to

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Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 14

Good morning 🌱
#Garden
#Herbs
#Heliotrope

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 12

Flowers? Coffee? Chart pack? Must be kicking off week 2 of the ExEd Intensive @auneeducation.bsky.social! Up this weekend: Leading Inclusion in the Nature Based Classroom. #Edusky

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 11

When you’re under a boil order and also live in a house with 2 other people with ADD…

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 11

Love that book

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jul 7

We try to get back to folks in 2-3 weeks, but sometimes it takes a bit longer. It’s ok to reach out again to be sure, though!

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Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jun 22

This little dude (Bluebird) made his first landing right onto my AC unit this morning. He was not thrilled. #Birds

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jun 22

My little deck garden makes me very happy. 🌱

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jun 17

#EduInFocus culture building takes time- folks need to know one another well enough to feel safe de-privatizing their practice, and then they need lots of structures positive experiences to reinforce that safety. Don’t rush or force participation.

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Reposted by Laura Thomas

Edutopia @edutopia.org · Jun 4

From teachengagingela on IG: “Yes, I know The Great Gatsby has a musical now. BUT this intro activity for teaching chapter 1 still HITS EVERY TIME💚”

#ITeachEnglish #HighSchoolTeacher

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Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · Jun 4

Tiny garden.

Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · May 24

My daughter and her friends need 75 more followers. If you’re on the clock app, can you do me a solid? www.tiktok.com/@the.senior....

The Senior Chronicles's Creator Profile

www.tiktok.com

Reposted by Laura Thomas

Samer Rabadi @samerrabadi.bsky.social · May 12

Y'all, new teachers hear plenty of advice, but what about the unconventional wisdom that can help get them through their first years? What surprising advice would you share with them? #NewTeachers #EduSky

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Laura Thomas @criticalskills1.bsky.social · May 4

Merlin is the gateway drug of the birding world.

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