Through a grant from MTEF, Gregg Behr and Ryan Rydzewski are serving as “authors-in-residence” with Manheim Township this school year, sharing the research and insights from their book “When You Wonder, You’re Learning: Mister Rogers’ Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids,” through a variety of learning opportunities for faculty and staff.
During their visit at the end of January, they co-taught a lesson with Middle School music teachers, using a few of Rogers’ more than 200 compositions as hands-on practice analyzing theme and message, facilitated professional development sessions, and visited teachers and classrooms inspired by the tools for learning that Rogers advocated. Ryan and Gregg also met with parents and educators, sharing ideas for facilitating curiosity, creativity, and communication with the children in our community.
This Great Idea was brought to MTEF by the district’s Instructional Technology Coaches. Gregg and Ryan’s research emphasizes the importance of the learning sciences utilized by Fred Rogers in his iconic television program. These sciences support the teaching and learning practices that are needed to implement the new Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability (STEELS) Standards.