Passionate Learners

Since Pernille Ripp was a child growing up in Denmark, she knew she wanted to work with kids. She has loved being a fourth, fifth, and then seventh grade teacher in the American public school system, as well as an educational coach for adults. In her co-created teaching spaces, students’ identities are at the center of the explorations that they do, as is considering how to fight for change. Recently, Pernille moved home to Denmark, where she is expanding her knowledge of children’s development and needs through her work in early childhood education.

Foreword About the Author Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Rediscovering the Teacher You Set Out to Be: Taking the Steps to Change 2. Would You Like Being a Student in Your Own Classroom? Creating Conditions for Shared Power 3. Shoring Up Boundaries: Protecting Your Time and Yourself 4. It’s Not How Your Classroom Looks: Creating Classroom Spaces Where All Children Can Thrive 5. Cultivating a Passionate Learning Environment: Ways to Build Community and Trust 6. Giving the Classroom Back: Getting Started with Student-Centered Learning and Overcoming Barriers 7. Letting Go of the Punish, Behave, Reward Cycle: Building Conditions for Better Intrinsic Motivation 8. Centering Standards and Identities: Planning Units and Lessons that Center Children 9. Free to Have a Life: Changing Your Homework and Worksheet Routine 10. Grading Destroys Curiosity: Moving to Authentic Assessments 11. Final Thoughts: Making the Changes that Matter