About the Author: Jenn Breisacher

Jenn began teaching high school history in 2007. After moving from a teacher-dominated classroom to a truly student-centered one, she found herself helping colleagues who wanted to follow her lead. In 2018, she decided to expand beyond her school walls and help others who were also trying to figure out this fantastic method of instruction to ignite intrinsic motivation in their students. She launched Student Centered World at the urging of her colleagues.Fast forward to today, she has a unique perspective not many educators share. Since the start of the pandemic, she has worked with teachers from diverse backgrounds to identify what works in the classroom and what needs to be left behind. She’s shared strategies from rural Nebraska that have also succeeded in the Bronx. Together, they’ve experimented, refined, and evolved as a community.The student apathy crisis is real. If you’re still teaching like it’s pre-2020, you’ll find yourself frustrated...fast. Jenn is here to help you work your way through it.

Blended Learning: Best for Our Current Student Population

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Sky with fluffy clouds sets the stage: How does blended learning work? The question invites you to explore studentcenteredworld.com, all framed within a purple border.

The spring of 2020 thrust almost every direction of education into a sudden switch from in-person instruction to distance learning. I use the term “distance learning” very lightly, as what has been deemed “crisis learning” is not interchangeable with true distance learning. A true model of distance learning requires extensive planning, best practices, and specific … Read more

Covert K-12 Trauma-Informed Teaching Helpful Self-Care

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The image showcases a serene ocean and sky as the backdrop, with "Self-Care for Trauma-Informed Teaching" prominently centered. At the bottom lies studentcenteredworld.com, all elegantly framed by a teal border.

So often teachers fail to prioritize self-care because of the plethora of items overflowing their plates every day. Teachers who are often underfunded and overworked are too busy trying to keep afloat than to set boundaries to help preserve their own health. However, taking the time to do so is not only important on the … Read more

K-12 Distance Learning Clarification for Stressed Teachers

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A person types on a laptop amidst a distance learning session with a smartphone and notepad nearby. The overlay text reads Teaching Distance Learning. In the background, a glass and portable speaker add subtle ambiance to the focused workspace.

Whether or not the concept of distance learning, blended learning, hybrid learning, or any of the other buzz words surrounding some type of digital education ever interested you, 2020 thrust many teachers into some type of model that took them so far outside of their comfort zones that they couldn’t even see them anymore. Some … Read more

Parents During Stressful School Closures: 5 Ideas for Success

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A person writes equations on a transparent board, while pink virus particles float around. The text reads, "Homeschooling During Extended School Closures," highlighting innovative solutions during challenging times, with a website link below.

What should parents do to keep their children up-to-date on schoolwork when districts close for an extended period of time? The thought of having to take on the role of teacher while your children are forced to stay at home due to school closures can be extremely stressful.  While many schools have contingency plans that … Read more

“Live Tweeting” Pearl Harbor Activity

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A silhouette of a harbor at sunset with sailboats in the background. The text reads Live Tweeting Pearl Harbor and studentcenteredworld.com.

**This activity is not currently available on my Teachers Pay Teachers store as the timeline from National Geographic is not active at this time** One of the most difficult aspects of teaching history is making it relevant. If a student doesn’t have a natural interest in a subject, it can get really dry, really quickly. … Read more

Easy, Fun Brain Break Games for K-12 Students

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Text on a blue and brown brick wall reads, "Easy, Fun Brain Break Games for K-12 Students," highlighting engaging activities. A turquoise border surrounds the image, framing the message with a website link below.

If you’ve followed our series on the importance of brain breaks in the classroom (especially brain break games), you know how passionate we are about their need. Not the fact that they’re nice, but that they’re a need. We have students in our classroom that have been in front of a screen since birth. They … Read more

Teaching Growth Mindset in the 21st Century Classroom

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A green plant thriving inside a light bulb beautifully symbolizes teaching growth mindset and ideas. The phrase "Teaching Growth Mindset" is prominently displayed across a purple banner in the image.

The term growth mindset is on fire in educational circles today. But how does one go about teaching growth mindset? What does growth mindset actually mean? The true definition of a growth mindset has been investigated for decades. With the original intent of researching how individuals responded to failure in mind, Dr. Carol Dweck was … Read more

4 Amazon Speakers with Alexa Skills for Classroom Success

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A group of Amazon speakers with glowing rings on a dark background. The overlay text reads, "Alexa Skills for Classroom Success," highlighting the educational potential these devices offer. The subtle branding at the bottom directs you to studentcenteredworld.com for more information.

Throughout our brain breaks series, we have been discussing various ways to incorporate brain breaks into the classroom. We have discussed books (ad),  classroom activities, and places like YouTube. There is one place that we haven’t discussed, and it is versatile in more ways than just with brain breaks. It is by using an Amazon … Read more