Laura Thomas
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criticalskills1.bsky.social
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
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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
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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
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
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 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
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?
October 1, 2025 at 11:46 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. 🌱
September 14, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Everything in this vase started its life as a seed 🌱under my grow lights in February, which makes me inappropriately happy. #Garden
August 19, 2025 at 2:41 AM
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?
August 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
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
July 17, 2025 at 11:41 PM
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
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
Good morning 🌱
#Garden
#Herbs
#Heliotrope
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
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
This little dude (Bluebird) made his first landing right onto my AC unit this morning. He was not thrilled. #Birds
June 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
My little deck garden makes me very happy. 🌱
June 22, 2025 at 1:18 AM
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
June 4, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Tiny garden.
June 4, 2025 at 1:33 AM
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
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
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
May 2, 2025 at 8:09 PM
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
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
I never knew this place existed, let alone how important it was to young woman seeking independent lives. This book is a gem. #BookSky
April 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Man…this one is going to stick with me. #BookSky
April 25, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Haven’t we all been betrayed by poultry at least once?
April 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Such a fun, spooky read! #BookSky
April 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM