Laura Thomas
@criticalskills1.bsky.social
Core Faculty Antioch University, Edutopia Community Facilitator & Consulting Editor & ISTE Community Leader. Author, mom, gardener, and aspirational yogi
http://antioch.edu/faculty/laura-thomas
http://antioch.edu/faculty/laura-thomas
Pinned
Laura Thomas
@criticalskills1.bsky.social
· Nov 19
MEd for Experienced Educators › Antioch University
Program Overview Concentrations Additional Information Admission Start your Antioch Journey Faculty Application Deadlines Tuition & Financial Aid Cost MEd for Experienced Educators Home › Program Find...
antioch.edu
I should make a pinned post. I've been teaching since 1993- faculty at @auneeducation.bsky.social since 2002. I teach in & direct our Masters Degree program for working teachers- ExEd. antioch.edu/exed Mostly I work with our PBL/SEL program- the Critical Skills Classroom. antioch.edu/csc
Reposted by Laura Thomas
Early-career teachers: Looking for classroom management tips, assessment ideas, and pointers for working with parents?
Our Starter Pack of Resources for New Teachers has it all! ✨
#EduSky #NewTeachers
Our Starter Pack of Resources for New Teachers has it all! ✨
#EduSky #NewTeachers
A Starter Pack of Resources for New Teachers
We’ve gathered some of the best resources for new teachers in one place!
edut.to
October 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Early-career teachers: Looking for classroom management tips, assessment ideas, and pointers for working with parents?
Our Starter Pack of Resources for New Teachers has it all! ✨
#EduSky #NewTeachers
Our Starter Pack of Resources for New Teachers has it all! ✨
#EduSky #NewTeachers
I’m at an actual in person conference today- presenting and sitting at a booth for Antioch University. It’s the fall instructional conference from @neanh.bsky.social A small but might group of educators meeting face to face. It’s absolutely DELIGHTFUL! #EduSky🍎
October 10, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I’m at an actual in person conference today- presenting and sitting at a booth for Antioch University. It’s the fall instructional conference from @neanh.bsky.social A small but might group of educators meeting face to face. It’s absolutely DELIGHTFUL! #EduSky🍎
I love my job- the people are amazing, I like the work, and generally we’re on the right side of history, organizationally speaking. Knowing I won’t get fired for posting wildly controversial things like “don’t zip tie children” & “facism is bad” is really just icing on the cake, you know?
October 4, 2025 at 11:58 AM
I love my job- the people are amazing, I like the work, and generally we’re on the right side of history, organizationally speaking. Knowing I won’t get fired for posting wildly controversial things like “don’t zip tie children” & “facism is bad” is really just icing on the cake, you know?
Reposted by Laura Thomas
⚡🎧 Our 2nd School of Practice podcast episode is out!
In this week’s show, we tackle a classic teacher dilemma: DESK LAYOUTS.
Is there one to rule them all?
In this week’s show, we tackle a classic teacher dilemma: DESK LAYOUTS.
Is there one to rule them all?
October 1, 2025 at 11:46 PM
⚡🎧 Our 2nd School of Practice podcast episode is out!
In this week’s show, we tackle a classic teacher dilemma: DESK LAYOUTS.
Is there one to rule them all?
In this week’s show, we tackle a classic teacher dilemma: DESK LAYOUTS.
Is there one to rule them all?
I’ve had a record number of these in my garden this year plus more bees than I’ve seen in years. Apparently tickseed and blue top vervain (I think that’s what that is?) are their favorites. 🌱
September 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I’ve had a record number of these in my garden this year plus more bees than I’ve seen in years. Apparently tickseed and blue top vervain (I think that’s what that is?) are their favorites. 🌱
Speak to me of classroom rituals and traditions, #EduSky 🍎
What are your favorites?
How do you find time for them in when there's so much to do?
What are your favorites?
How do you find time for them in when there's so much to do?
August 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Speak to me of classroom rituals and traditions, #EduSky 🍎
What are your favorites?
How do you find time for them in when there's so much to do?
What are your favorites?
How do you find time for them in when there's so much to do?
Big problems aren’t so hard if you break them into pieces.
Educators @criticalskills1.bsky.social and Nelia Rath explain how to teach chunking as a skill to help students tackle messy problems: edut.to/3GrwlOD
#EduSky #PBL #MiddleSchool #HighSchoolTeacher
#EduSky #PBL #MiddleSchool #HighSchoolTeacher
July 17, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Big problems aren’t so hard if you break them into pieces.
I had so much fun writing this!!
Teaching students how to break a project into manageable pieces can:
🤝 Build collaboration and problem-solving skills
🎒 Increase student ownership
🌼 Cultivate rich classroom community
@criticalskills1.bsky.social and Nelia Rath share a how-to guide.
#EduSky #PBL #MiddleSchool #HighSchoolTeacher
🤝 Build collaboration and problem-solving skills
🎒 Increase student ownership
🌼 Cultivate rich classroom community
@criticalskills1.bsky.social and Nelia Rath share a how-to guide.
#EduSky #PBL #MiddleSchool #HighSchoolTeacher
Teaching Students to Use Chunking to Tackle Complex Problems
Middle and high school teachers can show students how to break projects into smaller parts to support their ability to manage their work.
edut.to
July 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I had so much fun writing this!!
July 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Flowers? Coffee? Chart pack? Must be kicking off week 2 of the ExEd Intensive @auneeducation.bsky.social! Up this weekend: Leading Inclusion in the Nature Based Classroom. #Edusky
July 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Flowers? Coffee? Chart pack? Must be kicking off week 2 of the ExEd Intensive @auneeducation.bsky.social! Up this weekend: Leading Inclusion in the Nature Based Classroom. #Edusky
When you’re under a boil order and also live in a house with 2 other people with ADD…
July 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
When you’re under a boil order and also live in a house with 2 other people with ADD…
My little deck garden makes me very happy. 🌱
June 22, 2025 at 1:18 AM
My little deck garden makes me very happy. 🌱
Reposted by Laura Thomas
From teachengagingela on IG: “Yes, I know The Great Gatsby has a musical now. BUT this intro activity for teaching chapter 1 still HITS EVERY TIME💚”
#ITeachEnglish #HighSchoolTeacher
#ITeachEnglish #HighSchoolTeacher
June 4, 2025 at 10:08 PM
From teachengagingela on IG: “Yes, I know The Great Gatsby has a musical now. BUT this intro activity for teaching chapter 1 still HITS EVERY TIME💚”
#ITeachEnglish #HighSchoolTeacher
#ITeachEnglish #HighSchoolTeacher
My daughter and her friends need 75 more followers. If you’re on the clock app, can you do me a solid? www.tiktok.com/@the.senior....
The Senior Chronicles's Creator Profile
www.tiktok.com
May 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM
My daughter and her friends need 75 more followers. If you’re on the clock app, can you do me a solid? www.tiktok.com/@the.senior....
Reposted by Laura Thomas
Y'all, new teachers hear plenty of advice, but what about the unconventional wisdom that can help get them through their first years? What surprising advice would you share with them? #NewTeachers #EduSky
May 12, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Y'all, new teachers hear plenty of advice, but what about the unconventional wisdom that can help get them through their first years? What surprising advice would you share with them? #NewTeachers #EduSky
What I learned from my sabbatical:
1. Exercise makes every day better.
2. Deferred maintenance isn’t a good idea when it comes to one’s health.
3. Having time to think deeply & write about an idea is a gift.
4. Visiting teachers in the classrooms is the most important research I can do. #EduSky
1. Exercise makes every day better.
2. Deferred maintenance isn’t a good idea when it comes to one’s health.
3. Having time to think deeply & write about an idea is a gift.
4. Visiting teachers in the classrooms is the most important research I can do. #EduSky
May 2, 2025 at 8:09 PM
What I learned from my sabbatical:
1. Exercise makes every day better.
2. Deferred maintenance isn’t a good idea when it comes to one’s health.
3. Having time to think deeply & write about an idea is a gift.
4. Visiting teachers in the classrooms is the most important research I can do. #EduSky
1. Exercise makes every day better.
2. Deferred maintenance isn’t a good idea when it comes to one’s health.
3. Having time to think deeply & write about an idea is a gift.
4. Visiting teachers in the classrooms is the most important research I can do. #EduSky
Explaining “correlation doesn’t equal causation” shouldn’t be necessary at this stage. And yet…
RFK Jr: "We found that there's a direct inverse correlation between fluoride exposure and low IQ in children. So the more you get, the stupider you are."
May 1, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Explaining “correlation doesn’t equal causation” shouldn’t be necessary at this stage. And yet…
We’re 4 weeks from last frost so while I harden off seedlings I’m putting out pots to see what I want where. I’m going to need more pots. And more plants. Different plants from the 10,000 plants I started. 🌱 #GardenerMath
April 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
We’re 4 weeks from last frost so while I harden off seedlings I’m putting out pots to see what I want where. I’m going to need more pots. And more plants. Different plants from the 10,000 plants I started. 🌱 #GardenerMath
Haven’t we all been betrayed by poultry at least once?
April 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Haven’t we all been betrayed by poultry at least once?
