The Core Collaborative

Monday Mindset: How can we ensure that our students authentically experience and actively shape democracy?

Take a look at our blog on Human-Centered Design and the deeper promise of democracy. What resonates with you?
thecorecollaborative.com/designing-fo...

#EducationalLeadership #StudentAgency

Great question! That makes a lot of sense. Technology is accelerating at such a rapid pace, and human evolution has taken much longer.

Smart Strategies for Reading Digital Texts - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

📱📚 Your brain on digital reading might surprise you!
New research reveals we actually comprehend LESS when reading on screens, especially during timed reading or with longer texts.

Learn 9 research-backed tips that actually work to help your students! 👇
thecorecollaborative.com/smart-strate...

5 images: the largest in the upper right says Happy Pride Month from The Core Collaborative and Mimi & Todd Press. The bottom right shows the founders of The Core Collaborative and says Proud to be a Pop-and-Pop owned company since 1994 along with Happy Pride. The top left shows an image from a birthday party, the middle left shows the cover of the book And Tango Makes Three, and the bottom left shows Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera at Pride March 1989.

🌈 The Core Collaborative strives to build classrooms and communities where every learner’s identity is honored, where every voice matters, and where everyone is free to show up fully as themselves. Because we believe that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, valued, and loved! ❤️

Core Collaborative The Core Collaborative is a professional learning network specializing in student centered approaches. We believe in social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. We believe that when we learn toge...

Want to learn more about #ImpactTeams and see what it really looks like in classrooms? Check out our YouTube page full of playlists at all grade levels, with real students and teachers!

www.youtube.com/@CoreCollabo...

Help! My RTI Triangle Is Upside Down… Now What? - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

Is your RTI triangle upside down? You're not alone! 🔽 🔼

By focusing on a mastery-based system designed for deep, transferable learning, we utilize six steps for transformation.

Read more in Paul Bloomberg's blog:
thecorecollaborative.com/help-my-rti-...

#RTI #ImpactTeams

Leading Impact Teams

Real schools, real results at our partners schools with Impact Teams:
⬆️ Moved OFF Comprehensive Support and Improvement lists
📈 Double-digit growth on state exams
⤴️ 49% growth on the i-Ready math diagnostic

Are you ready to see this at your school? Connect with us!
www.LeadingImpactTeams.com

Screenshot of the Amazon page for Re-Envisioning Rigor Book 2, showing it's #1 in Curricula

A quote from Matt Baer, Principal "This book is full of strategies, focused on rigor, that our teachers can easily implement on day one in their classroom." There is a graphic of the book cover for Re-Envisioning Rigor and a young girl holding the book. Available now on Amazon and Mimi & Todd Press

🥳 Today is the day! Re-Envisioning Rigor, Book 2, is now available, and it's the #1 new release in Curricula!

📚 You can find links to the Kindle version (still $4.99!), paperback, and bulk orders at www.mimitoddpress.com/re-envisioni...

#PBL #ProjectBasedLearning #ProblemBasedLearning

Circles of Student Voice - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

📣 EDUCATORS: Let's reimagine how we facilitate student dialogue! What if Socratic Seminars weren't just about discussion, but "an opportunity for students to reflect not merely on ideas, but on themselves"? 🪞

Read all about it on our blog: thecorecollaborative.com/circles-of-s...

#SocraticSeminar

A girl sitting in the grass reading a book. The Core Collaborative logo and YES hummingbird logo are above her. The text states "Students who feel they belong are 55% less likely to experience chronic absenteeism." with the source cited below

Looking for more #studentengagement and better attendance? Want to offer ALL of your students a sense of #belonging?

Connect with our Youth Empowered Stewardship and learn how to build a multigenerational approach to empowerment in your school or district!

Learn more here!
qrco.de/YouthEmpower...

YouTube video by Core Collaborative 5th Grade Peer Assessment with Models in Summary Writing at PS 5

🔁 Self and peer assessment using co-created success criteria and models is one of the most powerful practices we see in Competency-Based Learning. See it in action here with 5th grade writing:
youtu.be/WmRYg5bBBWc

#CompetencyBasedLearning #Literacy #SummaryWriting #EducationalLeadership

Mastering the Groove: Portfolios That Showcase Lifelong Learning - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

📖 Portfolios shift ownership of learning directly to students
🪞 Reflective practices build essential metacognitive skills
➡️ Alignment with priority standards maintains academic rigor
🌟 Students develop genuine agency over their educational journey

📖 thecorecollaborative.com/mastering-th...

95% of students demonstrated mastery of content in competency-based learning environments compared to traditional students settings, according to a study by the Aurora institute (vs. 75% in more traditional settings)

When we help schools implement CBL, we see profound changes in engagement and achievement. But what does this actually look like?
The key components:
🎯 Real-world connections
📊 Mastery assessment practices
🔄 Continuous feedback loops
💻 Strategic technology integration

🔗: qrco.de/Competency-B...

YouTube video by Core Collaborative Kindergarten Students Provide Peer Feedback on Retelling a Story

We love watching these Multilingual Learners give feedback on Retelling of a Familiar Text! Then listen to their teachers explain how they provide different resources for students to support each other without telling the answers. 🤩

🎬 youtu.be/liJtSUR_pPg

#Multilingual #Assessment

Bridging Reading and Writing Through Craft - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

4 powerful strategies to support your MLLs:
🎯 Interactive Read-Alouds: Language models
🎯 Mentor Text Analysis: How authors craft
🎯 Writing Workshops: Process over perfection
🎯 Craft Mini-Lessons: Learn techniques

Read the blog here!👇
thecorecollaborative.com/bridging-rea...

#MultilingualLearners

Honoring Immigrant Heritage Month: Building Bridges through Children’s Literature - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

The Core Collaborative is proud to honor and celebrate Immigrant Heritage month, where we recognize the incredible gifts and contributions of immigrants through children's literature!

Enjoy these beautiful and important books from our blog with your students all year long:
conta.cc/43Xw5Q5

Empowering Multilingual Learners Transform your school into a place where multilingual learners are seen, heard, and empowered. We can create a future where every student thrives with pride and purpose.

Looking to empower your Multilingual Learners? Wondering which strategies can make the most impact while still honoring the strengths they bring from their first languages? Our team can help! Check out our Resource Hub below and connect with us!

qrco.de/EmpowerMLs

#MultilingualLearners #Literacy

YouTube video by Core Collaborative Peer Assessment of a Reading Task

What does Literacy & Justice for All really look like?

📚 Vocabulary, comprehension, and academic discourse
📝 Evidence-based writing connected to reading
🤔 Critical literacy to question, analyze, and create meaning

👇 It looks like this in 4th grade!

🎬 www.youtube.com/watch?v=psuL...

#Literacy

Circles of Student Voice - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

Socratic seminars flip the script! Students don't raise hands to be chosen, but speak because their thoughts matter. This breaks down the power dynamics and makes every learner a co-creator of knowledge.

Read our latest blog!
thecorecollaborative.com/circles-of-s...

#Literacy #StudentVoice

An orange book with The Core Collaborative logo and the words Literacy for Justice: From local libraries to grassroots organizations, everyone has a role in promoting literacy and justice.

What is our role in Literacy and Justice for All? Our consultants are committed to empowering ALL learners, through:
✅ Phonemic awareness and phonics
✅ Vocabulary and comprehension
✅ Evidence-based writing
✅ Academic discourse

Connect with us!
go.thecorecollaborative.com/literacy-and...

#Literacy

A green and white flyer for Unlock Rigorous Learning: Practical Strategies for Kansas Leaders with Michael McDowell on June 4-5th from 9-2:00 pm

🚨 Kansas leaders, you have less than a week to register for Unlock Rigorous Learning with Michael McDowell on June 4th and 5th! Registration closes May 30th!

➡️ Register NOW! events.greenbush.org/session/day-...

YouTube video by Core Collaborative Middle School Student Voice

Impact Teams differs from traditional PLCs by partnering WITH students to amplify their voices in the process.

Check out this middle school student-led Evidence Walk in NYC and see Impact Teams in action!
🎬 www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwTc...

#ImpactTeams #StudentVoice #EducationalLeadership

Celebrating Learning: End-of-Year Reflection Activities - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

It's almost the end of the school year! Here are some reflection activities organized by grade-level bands, designed to focus on the learning that happened; what was absorbed, applied, and transformed.

Let us know which ones you try!
🔗 thecorecollaborative.com/celebrating-...

#ImpactTeams

A photograph of Marisol Quevado Rerucha and her book Beyond the Surface of Restorative Practices, along with Studies Weekly's Learning Lab Thrive in 2025 logo and the words Tuesday, June 17 Keynote Address: Thriving by Living Beyond the Surface. There is also a logo for The Core Collaborative "out and about" in the upper right corner.

❤️Join the inspiring Marisol Quevado Rerucha virtually on June 17! She will be sharing her keynote address, "Thriving by Living Beyond the Surface", for Studies Weekly's Learning Lab 2025 Conference.

It's FREE PD from your couch!
Register here: s-w.co/learning-lab

#Belonging #RestorativePractices

A white background with the Impact Teams logo and a square graphic that reads: 15% reduction in dropout rates. Schools that implement student-centered practices experienced a 15% reduction in dropout rates (Levin, 2012). Citation: Levin, H.M. (2012). More than just test scores. Prospects, 42, 269-284

Students are more than test scores; they are looking for school to be relevant and empowering. By implementing student-centered practices, like #ImpactTeams, schools saw a 15% reduction in dropout rates!

Want to know how this can work for your students? Visit us at www.LeadingImpactTeams.com!

Youth Empowered Stewardship (YES) YES fosters multi-generational collaboration through music, movement, and the visual arts to activate a “head and heart” connection.

Youth Empowered Stewardship (YES) is the only multi-generational pathway that activates and sustains authentic partnerships between adults and students. High school students share what this vibrant learning community means to them. ❤️
🎬 bit.ly/YESHighSchool

Learn more!
qrco.de/YouthEmpower...

A white and blue graphic with grass at the bottom. The text states Camp Elevate "Choose Your Own Adventure" Camp Elevate: Your Goals. Your Way. A personalized summer professional learning experience. You Choose! Summer 2025 2 or 3-day camp, on-site or virtual from thecorecollaborative.com. The other side says 2025 Camps: Multilingual Learner Success, Impact Teams, Competency-Based Grading, Competency-Based Learning, Literacy and Justice for ALL, Assessment for Learning, MTSS Implementation. There is a circle that says schedule your discover call: sarah@thecorecollaborative.com

Are you looking to better support Multilingual Learners? Want to strengthen MTSS implementation? How about getting started with Impact Teams?

📣 Camp Elevate is here! Our true "Choose Your Own Adventure" workshop experience!
On-Site or Virtual | 2-3 Days

Email sarah@thecorecollaborative.com today!

Stewards for Democracy - The Core Collaborative Job-embedded, learner-centered, professional learning for schools and systems

How do we create schools that work for all of us? Learn more about the new Core Collaborative pathway, Stewards for Democracy!
⭐️ Youth Empowered Stewardship
⭐️ Restorative Heartset and Mindset
⭐️ Assessment for Democracy

Let's connect! thecorecollaborative.com/pathway/stew...

#TransformingEducation

The Youth Empowered Stewardship (YES!) is democracy in action! Students are powerful co-creators of school culture and community. Let's listen to their voices and let them lead!

YES builds important multi-generational partnerships. Learn more here!
qrco.de/YouthEmpower...

#Belonging #StudentVoice

YouTube video by Core Collaborative 1st Grade Peer Feedback in PE at PS 09

🎳 When the fabulous first graders at PS 9 teach you how to be a "real bowling person" 🤩 🤩 🤩
youtu.be/ShWpBvYQHqA

Want to see first graders do this at your school? Reach out at our Competency-Based Learning Resource Hub!
qrco.de/Competency-B...

#CompetencyBasedLearning #ImpactTeams