This book provides elementary school teachers with strategies to unleash the learning superpowers of students that foster inquiry-based, student-driven classrooms.

Turn students into learning superheroes!

Like we see in the movies, no two superheroes learn to use their powers in the exact same way. Each of your students has superpowers hidden inside, and you hold the keys to unlock them. With this cutting-edge handbook, you’ll turn your classroom into a place where students don’t just receive an education—they use their powers to create it.

Discover specific, ready-to-use instructional journeys designed to foster an inquiry-based, student-driven learning environment. Each research-based journey

• Supports one of the six student superpowers: Wondering, Curating, Designing, Digital Inking, Gaming, and Connecting
• Encourages students to think deeply; as required by the CCSS and NGSS
• Includes step-by-step lesson frameworks, aligned with the Common Core, that fit into your regular day

Tear through the obstacles of achievement and show your students that anything is possible! 

"Ferguson and Swanson explain why tapping into student competencies is imperative and show the road-map for matching engaging activities to specific standards. So many books on the market explain why a shift is needed; this one gives you the tools to do it."
—Erin Klein, Teacher
Michigan Reading Association, Bloomfield Hills

"Unleashing Student Superpowers is an amazing resource for the creation and enhancement of student-centered classroom environments that focus on high-level questioning, inquiry, and passion-based learning. Each Superpower theme provides linkages to the Common Core and flexible lesson plans that promote relevant skills for students’ learning."
—Victoria Olson, Teacher 
West Langley Elementary School, Canada

Foreword by Marilee Sprenger
A Preface From the Superpower Guardians
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Chapter 1. Anything Is Possible: So Why Do Our Classrooms Have So Many Limits?
What′s the Point of School?
The Knowing-Doing Gap
Teachers Are Designers
I′m Busy! Where Does This Fit?
Research Reminders
What About the Standards?
All About the Common Core State Standards
Look Back and Step Forward
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 2. The Student Superpowers
The Student Superpowers
What Is an Instructional Journey? How Does It Promote Student Superpowers?
The Superpowers Are Bigger Than Specific Journeys
Debunking Departmentalization
Included Components of Each Instructional Journey
A Few Final Considerations
Look Back and Step Forward
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 3. The Wondering Instructional Journey: What Do You Wonder?
Superpower Summary and Overview
Wondering Journey at a Glance
Instructional Journey Goals
Student-Friendly Authentic Learning Problem
General Progression
Connecting the Standards
Learning Activities and Tech Upgrades
Formative Assessment and Tracking Student Progress Toward Goals
Final Assessment: Have Your Goals Been Achieved? GAME SHOW REDESIGN
Differentiation: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Window Into the Classroom
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 4. The Curating Instructional Journey: Solving a Puzzle
Superpower Summary and Overview
Curating Journey at a Glance
Instructional Journey Goals
Student-Friendly Authentic Learning Problem
General Progression
Connecting the Standards
Learning Activities and Tech Upgrades
Formative Assessment and Tracking Student Progress Toward Goals
Final Assessment: Have Your Goals Been Achieved? CREATING SCHOOL CLUBS
Differentiation: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Window Into the Classroom
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 5. The Connecting Instructional Journey: Sharing Stories
Superpower Summary and Overview
Connecting Journey at a Glance
Instructional Journey Goals
Student-Friendly Authentic Learning Problem
General Progression
Connecting the Standards
Learning Activities and Tech Upgrades
Formative Assessment and Tracking Student Progress Toward Goals
Final Assessment: Have Your Goals Been Achieved? CONNECTING AROUND THE WORLD
Differentiation: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Window Into the Classroom
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 6. The Digital Inking Instructional Journey: What Should We Tweet?
Superpower Summary and Overview
Digital Inking Journey at a Glance
Instructional Journey Goals
Student-Friendly Authentic Learning Problem
General Progression
Connecting the Standards
Learning Activities and Tech Upgrades
Formative Assessment and Tracking Student Progress Toward Goals
Final Assessment: Have Your Goals Been Achieved? CREATING AN INTERACTIVE CAMPAIGN
Differentiation: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Window Into the Classroom
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 7. The Designing Instructional Journey: What Can You Make?
Superpower Summary and Overview
Designing Journey at a Glance
Instructional Journey Goals
Student-Friendly Authentic Learning Problem
General Progression
Connecting the Standards
Learning Activities and Tech Upgrades
Formative Assessment and Tracking Student Progress Toward Goals
Final Assessment: Have Your Goals Been Achieved? DESIGN A SCHOOL BUS
Differentiation: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Window Into the Classroom
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 8. The Gaming Instructional Journey: Make Life More Fun!
Superpower Summary and Overview
Gaming Journey at a Glance
Instructional Journey Goals
Student-Friendly Authentic Learning Problem
General Progression
Connecting the Standards
Learning Activities and Tech Upgrades
Formative Assessment and Tracking Student Progress Toward Goals
Final Assessment: Have Your Goals Been Achieved? GAMIFY YOUR HOMEWORK
Differentiation: Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Window Into the Classroom
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 9. The Superpower Audit: How Am I Doing?
How Can I Track Progress?
How Should These Audits Be Used?
Summary
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 10. Start Today: Ten First Steps
Finding Small Wins
1. It′s All About Choice
2. What Does Good Work Look Like?
3. Knowing What I Know
4. Different Every Day
5. List-Group-Label
6. Student-Directed Share
7. Think Time
8. Three-Finger Self-Assessment
9. Gallery Walk
10. A Class Blog
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
Chapter 11. More Readings: The Fab Five
Continuing the Journey
A Question to Consider as You Reflect
References
Index