Hello and Welcome!

**Beginning June of 2024 I will no longer be teaching classes during the school year months, as I have taken a job teaching full-time at a middle school.  I plan to offer classes in the summer months beginning in summer 2025.  Please reach out anytime to request summer course offerings!**

About me:
My name is Carie Beth Russell.  I am the mother of two teenagers, a cat named Margo and an energetic dog named Scout Finch.  I live in the Midwest region of the United States with my family.  

I am a public elementary school and middle school general education teacher and gifted education specialist.  I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Master of Science degree in Education.   I spent a season at “home” after my second child was born, but remained active in the field of education by tutoring, teaching educational summer camps out of my home and teaching at a homeschool enrichment program, substitute teaching and teaching an elementary computer skills class.   My two children attend public school and take courses on Outschool.

I love interacting with children and teens and being an educator.  I'm astounded by children every single day.  I consider it an honor and  privilege to meet your child and develop an educational relationship with him/her.  Thank you for considering one of my courses!

Teaching Style:
My teaching style is centered around student-led learning.  It’s my belief that supporting children as THEY learn is the way to encourage their intrinsic patterns of curiosity, observation, wonder and problem-solving that will serve them well in all developmental stages of being a life-long learner.  In my classroom, student will take turns leading discussion, actively listening, respectfully considering what others have said, respectfully disagreeing, informally presenting assignments.  Students will be encouraged to participate verbally with screens and mics ON.  That said, I am flexible and sensitive to different comfort levels around speaking and being onscreen - many of my students begin by participating in the “chat” feature at first.  

Professional Values:
Diversity - 
I enjoy connecting with students from diverse backgrounds.  It's one of my favorite things about teaching for Outschool.  I have met so many students from various cultures, countries, learning styles, family structures, geographies and hobbies.  I've had students who live on a boat year round, students who take classes from a Yurt, students living in South Africa, Germany, Canada, England, Japan, students who are actors, dancers, explorers.  I’ve taught students who are gifted, twice-exceptional, on the Autism spectrum, have learning disabilities, are neurodivergent, neurotypical, LGBTQ.  I’ve taught classes for pre-school up through high school.  I've had students take my course offerings three years in a row as I've moved up with them as they've grown.  I've taught families, siblings, cousins and neighbors.  I absolutely love the connections that I'm able to make as an Outschool teacher, which both better me as a human and expand my own horizons and world-view.  I continue to grow and develop in my own education and training as an educator and take professional development courses which support this.  Please continue to check back here for a list of the courses I’ve taken recently.  

Safe Learning Spaces - 
Developing a safe space for students to learn and take appropriate educational, social and emotional risks is a huge priority for me.  Cursing, derogatory language, bullying etc will not be tolerated.  

Professional Development Coursework: (ongoing)

2024
SEL and Citizenship Resources from ARTHUR (GBH/PBS)
Supporting Social-Emotional Growth Through Project-Based Learning (EdWeb)
Beat the Summer Slide: Engaging Math Tactics for Elementary Summer School Programs (EdWeb)
Harvard Education Press's Black Educators Matter Webinar
AI Unleashed: Vetting the Tools	(EdWeb)
The Student-Centered Classroom: Elementary Edition (2nd, 3rd, 4th)	
Staying Current on Youth Vaping Prevention from FDA Center for Tobacco Products (EdWeb)
How to Teach Current Events in Our Interconnected World	(EdWeb)
Knowledge -Adolescent Mental Wellness in Crisis: What Can High Schools Do? (EdWeb)
Navigating Student Mental Health Needs in the Classroom	(EdWeb)
Uncovering Your Implicit Biases: An Exercise for Teachers (EdWeb)
Learning through Citizen Science (This course was developed by the National Geographic Society in collaboration with California State University, Bakersfield.)

2023
Digital Well-Being: Evidence-Based Lessons for the Classroom - EdWeb
Teaching U.S. History in Challenging Times; Grades 6-12 (GBH) 
Experiential News Literacy Learning - EdWeb Live Webinar
Science of Reading: Managing Change for Real Results - EdWeb Live Webinar
10 Things You Can Do to Start the School Year off Right - EdWeb Live Webinar
Applied Digital Skills (Google Suite): Intermediate PD Session Live Webinar, Google
Teaching Historical Thinking Skills in New and Compelling Ways, GBH
Myndful: How Students Used AI to Create an App for Mental Health Resources, EdWeb
Effective Solutions for Student and Staff Mental Health and Wellness, EdWeb
Maximizing Student Success: Enhancing MTSS and Strengthening Family Communication, EdWeb
Expert Advice on the Student Mental Health Crisis, EdWeb
Immediate Action Items for Educator Stress and Burnout, EdWeb
Level Up! Improving K-8 Math Outcomes Using Digital Games, EdWeb
The Metacognitive Student: How to Teach Academic, Social, and Emotional Intelligence in Every Content Area, EdWeb
GBH webinar, Teaching Known and Unknown Civil Rights Stories with the U.S. History Collection on PBS LearningMedia.
Center for Inclusion Innovation Webinar, Personalized Learning Made Easy: Using the Learner Variability Navigator in the Classroom

2022
Supporting AAPI Learners through Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Pedagogy (Outschool)
Instructional Scaffolding (Student Supports) in the Online Classroom (Outschool)
International Holocaust Remembrance Event with Hedy Bohm (Outschool)
Teaching Difficult Topics with Michael Soberman (Outschool)
Class Content Policies (Outschool)
Safety and Privacy on Outschool (Outschool)
Teaching Literature in the Online Classroom (Outschool)
Intro to Applied Digital Skills (Google)
Fostering Civil Discourse: Teaching Kids to Respectfully Disagree (Facing History and Ourselves)
Teaching the History of Disability and Building Inclusive Learning Communities (Facing History and Ourselves)


2021
Anti-bias in Education Workshop with Dr. Ashley N.Patterson (Outschool)
Classroom Culture in Anti-bias Education (Outschool)
Learner Led Instructional Model (Outschool)
Anti-bias Education: An Introduction (Outschool)
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Online Classroom (Outschool)
Supporting Unique Learnings (Outschool)
Family and Community Engagement in Anti-Bias Education (Outschool)
Educator Leadership in Anti-Bias Education (Outschool)
Indigenous Peoples' History Webinar (Teaching Tolerance - A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center)
Current Events in Your Classroom: Fostering Dialogue in Divisive Times Webinar - Facing History and Ourselves
Teaching About Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Webinar with Kelly Tudor (Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas) (Outschool)
Facing Hate: A Modern Challenge for an Ancient Hatred Webinar (Facing History and Ourselves)
Facing History On Screen and In Real Life (Facing History and Ourselves)
Let's Talk! Discussing Race, Racism and Other Difficult Topics With Students (Teaching Tolerance: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center) 


Curriculum:
Most novel and text studies use the structure of “Literature Circles”, although this looks very different depending on the text (fiction v. nonfiction) and the age of the students.  I usually offer both a written and technology-based format for assignments and responses.  I also use Scholastic Magazines and curriculum in those content specific courses (Scope Magazine - a language arts publication, The New York Times Upfront Magazine - a social studies publication for high school students, Scholastic Junior - a social studies publication for middle grade students).  I trend toward teaching about social justice issues including classes on girl’s education (Malala), history (The Indigenous People’s History of the United States), humanitarian issues (Refugee), physical diversity (Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, Wonder) and neurodiversity (Mango-Shaped Space, Counting by 7s).  

Communication:
Communication from students and parents is encouraged and appreciated.  I will respond within 24 - 48 hours.  

Age Ranges:
My course offerings are listed as having a flexible age-range.  This means that although your child’s age may not align completely with the suggested range, you may enroll your child anyway with the understanding that the maturity of the students, pace of the content, technology skills etc might not perfectly align with your student and require additional support from you as well as the instructor.  Communication with the instructor is helpful and appreciated about students who are outside of the recommended age range.  

Missed Classes, Transfers and Refunds:
When a student is absent from a class, they may “catch up” by watching the video recording of class, reading the Classroom “wall” in Outschool for any missed assignments or information, and also message the instructor with any questions.  Absences known and communicated in advance are greatly appreciated.  Transfers to an alternate section offering of a course are available on a case by case basis.  Course refund status is set to:  Moderate - Full refund within 24 hours of purchase or up to a week in advance of the class, then a 75% refund within the first week of the class.

Minimum enrollment:  
Due to the student-led and discussion-based format of my teaching-style and coursework, the minimum number of enrolled students per class is four.  I will keep parents informed of low-enrollment classes as the first day of class approaches, so you will not be caught off-guard by a last minute cancellation.  

Class Cancellations:  While infrequent and conscientiously avoided, inevitably a class meeting must sometimes be cancelled by the instructor.  This might be due to technology issues, family emergency, etc.  Students and parents will be given as much prior warning as is possible.  Cancelled classes will be rescheduled at the same time slot, essentially extending class by one week.  In the event that this is not possible for the instructor or the student, a “credit” will be given to the student for a future class with the instructor for the same dollar amount as was paid for the cancelled class.