Middle School Project-Based Learning - Guest Post by Instructional Coach, Brent Truchon

Eric Schoembs facilitates student engagement by providing hands-on, project based learning opportunities every single day.  Always willing to share, his workspace, resources, and to collaborate, Eric also deeply understands the value of the design process.  In his classes, students imagine, design, create, re-design, and construct  to create their final products. 

Two years ago, Eric and 10 students designed and built a 2 family modular storage shed for Habitat for Humanity of Middlebury, Vermont. This year, he
and his students have again partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a shed for two families in Shelburne, Vermont. 

The 10 students have gone through the design process and are now constructing this structure outside the EMS gymnasium.  If all goes according to plan, the shed will be completed by June 5th, put on a flatbed truck, and brought to Shelburne for use by two families. 

Student excitement and engagement around this project has been so evident.  The kids have become a team- they've created goals, worked on soft skills, and are extremely motivated to complete their collective goal of supporting a family in their community.  Thank you Eric for once again creating a lasting memory for each of these students.