College readiness is not about cramming for standardized tests. It’s not about writing the perfect personal statement. It’s not even about choosing the right school.

In short, it’s not just about getting into college.

It’s about being ready for college. That’s what makes students persevere and succeed.

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky boasts the longest known cave system in the world. I went for the cave but it is so much more. We visited in March as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.

Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the country with upwards of 14 million visitors per year. The Blue Ridge Mountains and part of the Appalachian trail run through the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina. We went in March as part of our Fourth Grade Pass tour.

Halfway through the term, I make sure grades are calculated to date and have one-to-one conversations with students about their progress. This builds trusts and engages their future success.

The namesake cacti of Saguaro National Park are really a sight to behold. The park is divided by the city of Tuscon. Spend an unhurried day in the Arizona desert.

Joshua Tree National Park is a giant jungle gym of rock formations. Experience two types of desert, some cuddly cacti, and climbing rocks in this California gem.

A multidisciplinary event bringing together students from different classes to present the history, science, and creation of a pastry dish.

Get your camera ready to capture the face of anyone who is seeing the canyon for the first time! You can maximize a full day in the canyon by staying in the park and sticking to the easy trails.

Visit Petrified Forest National Park for the rock formations, multi-colored mesas, and, of course, petrified wood. Here are some of my favorite spots in the park.

The pass allows every 4th-grader in the U.S. and their families entrance to National Parks for FREE for a year. Here’s some info on why and how you should take full advantage of this.

Hosting a student event featuring the escape room and SciLab. They solved a murder by searching for clues and conducting fingerprinting experiments.

I asked students about their experiences in the classroom. Here are some of their answers.

I am presenting about the experimental classroom as part of the 10th Annual Faculty Awards & Student Engagement Innovation Symposium, which is hosted by the Teaching and Learning Innovation department at Houston Community College. Thanks for attending!

There are two types of discussions that I use that require students to move into groups: Spider Web and Jigsaw. The experimental classroom is great for that because we could arrange the furniture for maximum engagement and active learning.

Using the Teaching with Integrity resources compiled by the American Historical Association to discuss the importance of teaching discrimination in America’s past.

How students reacted to the first week in our “Coffee Shop” experimental classroom.

A weekend of culture and coasters in Oklahoma’s capital city.

Utilizing experimental classrooms to transform learning in higher education.

I’m casting my vote for the 2022 top tools for learning list. Here are my tech favorites.

How sharing food makes students feel more comfortable, helps them get to know each other, and connects us all.