The Student-Centered Shift: Empowered International Schools and Classrooms Through Project-Based Learning

Still stuck playing classroom referee, solving every issue yourself, and wishing your students would step up? In this episode, I sit down with my colleague and veteran Montessori educator/ adolescent expert Meg Broz, who shares the single structure that transformed her classroom into a thriving student-led community: weekly student-run councils. Meg outlines how a simple shift—from teacher-driven management to peer-led community circles—created more ownership, accountability, and connection among her students than any behavior chart or classroom contract ever could. You'll learn: What a student-run council looks like—and why it's so much more than a glorified circle time A step-by-step structure you can embed into advisory, homeroom, or morning meeting How weekly councils support executive functioning, self-regulation, and community-building Tips for training student leaders to take the reins (and what to do when issues arise) Why this approach aligns with restorative practices, student voice, and real-world leadership Whether you're teaching in an IB, PYP, or project-based setting, this episode offers a powerful, transferable model for giving students shared responsibility—without chaos or loss of control. 👣 Ready to shift from manager to mentor? Start small, start now—with your own version of student-led council. Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Kyle-Wagner/dp/1032484713/  Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard and identify areas for growth: https://transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard/  Meg's Bio: Meg is the Humanities Adolescent Guide for the inaugural International Montessori School of Hong Kong, and an experienced middle school educator with a certificate in Montessori Adolescent Education. She has a passion for history, writing, and social justice, and imparts these loves on to my students. In her 15+ years as an educator, she has gotten deeply involved in DEI work, presented at multiple Montessori education conferences, and co-directed a conference in Chicago. Meg recently completed a Graduate Certificate, and Masters of Science degree is in progress from the International Institute of Restorative Practices. Meg brings restorative practices and student led councils into spaces to help people better communicate and understand each other, to restore harms, and to find a way to move forward compassionately and equitably. In her current role as Humanities Guide and past role as Junior High Coordinator, Meg uses her organizational skills to keep the program running smoothly, including G-Suite skills, communication, and project planning.Additionally, Meg has a past life as a theater technician, including carpentry, welding, painting, sewing, and stage management. I'm also 1/3 of the doo-wop rock band Midnight Moxie. These experiences make their way into her work in creative ways.

Tired of students constantly asking "What do I do next?" or aimlessly bouncing between tasks during work time? In this episode, I unpack one of the most common frustrations educators face when trying to promote student agency—learners who simply don't know how to manage themselves. I share a practical tool that changed everything for our classroom: the Self-Direction Rubric. It's a simple, structured approach that helps students develop essential executive functioning skills—from time management to self-monitoring—without you needing to hover. Learn how our Montessori middle school students went from floundering in our 90-minute "work cycle" unstructured time—getting distracted, procrastinating, and relying on us for constant direction, to tracking their growth, identifying their own learning habits, and setting meaningful goals. You'll learn: Why most students aren't ready for full autonomy—and how to meet them where they are The 5 self-direction domains that matter more than completing a to-do list How rubrics help students monitor impulse control, goal setting, planning, and reflection A simple weekly routine that builds self-directed behaviors over time How this shift moves the student-teacher relationship from compliance to coaching Whether you're running PBL, giving open project blocks, or managing a flexible classroom schedule, this tool helps you scaffold student agency without sacrificing structure. 👣 Agency doesn't happen overnight. But with the right framework, it can start today. Get the self-direction rubrics for Free: Self-Direction Rubrics Get the 12 Shifts Book with more ideas for self-direction: 'Where is the the Teacher: 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments.' 

Tired of watching student teams burn out mid-project? Or seeing the same student take charge while others fade into the background? In this episode, I share a simple but powerful strategy that reinvigorated our year-long student-run business: rotating roles. You'll hear how a single shift—letting students try on new responsibilities—rebalanced workloads, re-energized participation, and fostered deeper collaboration and skill growth. Through the story of our Montessori middle school café project, you'll hear how rotating a fatigued marketing manager into product development not only reignited his excitement, but sparked new momentum across the entire team. You'll learn: Why rotating roles prevents burnout, apathy, and imbalance in student teams 4 simple, flexible roles you can apply to any PBL experience How role rotation supports fairer assessment, stronger collaboration, and broader skill-building Quick examples for applying this in an urban garden, student podcast, or playground redesign Why this small shift keeps projects moving forward—without constant teacher intervention Whether you're guiding 6th graders through their first group inquiry or facilitating interdisciplinary projects with high schoolers, this episode will equip you with one of the easiest changes you can make… that delivers outsized results. 👣 Start small, start now—and keep the momentum going. Get the 12 Shifts Book: 12 Shifts for Student-Centered Environments

Have you provided students freedom and choice only to watch them fail miserably at exerting it?  Make bad decisions. Poorly manage their time. Produce sloppy, unpolished work.  That was me last week when I let students pitch their student generated business plan to a panel of investors.  Real stakes and real people. And they were terribly unprepared.  But what if I told you their failure was NOT their fault...but ours?! In this episode I share why student agency fails and 5 ways to fix it.  You learn: The three common mistakes aspiring student-centered practitioners make when giving students more autonomy and choice The simple shift to ensure success Simple facilitator moves to guide the process A dead easy framework to use every time you give students a new project based experience, open-ended task, or challenge Transform failed attempts at student agency into student empowerment. 

Feel like you're the only one pushing for more student-driven, hands-on learning in a system built for tradition? For many of us international educators, shifting toward student-centered, project-based learning feels like an uphill battle, especially when the system is slow to evolve. In this powerful episode, I speak with Steve from Bradbury International School, who turned a single underused structure on campus- what became "The Shed"- into a proof of concept for student-led, hands-on, tech infused, interdisciplinary learning. What started as a pilot space quickly became a catalyst for broader school-wide change. You'll learn: How to create momentum for active learning through visible wins, not policy Why student-designed spaces inspire deeper ownership and innovation How to align design thinking, sustainability, and curriculum into one bold vision What's required to lead change from within, when others aren't quite ready If you're trying to push student-centered learning beyond your classroom, this story of grassroots transformation will give you the spark—and strategy—you've been missing. Take the 12 Shifts Scorecard: www.transformschool.com/12shiftsscorecard Get the 12 Shifts Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Teacher-Kyle-Wagner/dp/1032484713  Steve's Bio: Steve is a dedicated EdTech Teacher with over 20 years of experience in Primary education. His journey has equipped him with a passion for teaching and learning, allowing me to develop and nurture learners of all ages as we explore the exciting world of educational technologies. The Shed at Bradbury School is a space for adults and children to learn new skills and explore new technologies that can be taken back to the classroom to enhance daily learning. From 3D design to practical maker sessions; cooking and sewing to VR design and coding, we love to try new ways to bring a practical aspect to the way we learn. I am always eager to connect with like-minded professionals and explore new opportunities. Let's connect and see how we can make teaching and learning more exciting!