Kids find their school life boring. Don't believe me? Ask them. Go ahead. Ask a recent graduate to pick out one word that describes her schooling experience. More than likely that word will be boring.

Of course students will remember bright spots that usually surround a special event, their friends, or even memories that have to do with an elective or extracurricular interest. But if you press and ask them about their interests in their core classes: science, math, language arts, or social studies, most students will have a less-than-glowing review of their experiences.

Most times when we start down the path of Project Based Learning, we take it slowly, tackling 1-3 projects in our first year. That’s a great idea because it gives us a chance to run a project, reflect, retool, and go again, without overwhelming ourselves or our students. But often, I’m asked by go-getter teachers what should/could be done in those in-between times. They recognize that kids gain skills, knowledge, and general “want-to” attitudes the more we offer great PBL opportunities.