Northern Michigan : Features

For Erin Luckhardt, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Boyne City Middle School, the reality of teaching “digital natives” is clear -- including technology-focused curriculum into everyday learning puts students at an advantage.  

A simple question holds big answers in education these days: why are teachers working to incorporate technology into lesson plans?

It’s early December and students at Petoskey High School are charged with hopes of a snow day, anticipation of classroom holiday parties and treats, and the stress of squeezing in the last minute tests and projects before break. For students in chef Bill Sommerfeldt’s Culinary Hospitality Program, there’s another source of energy mixed in.

Would you ever consider swapping chips and salsa for squash and salsa? Would cinnamon and sugar sweeten the idea of eating plain old squash? A new collaboration hopes to bring new life to the often under-appreciated squash. Partners in the collaboration include the food service programs at Montague and Whitehall schools, the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center’s (MACTC) Catering and Culinary Management program, and the statewide Cultivate Michigan initiative.

It takes an army. Intermediate school district administrators, educators and parents all play a role in order to provide students with disabilities the education they deserve and a chance to lead self-determined, independent lives.

Some small schools in the Upper Peninsula and northern lower Michigan face unique challenges of geography--island schools, and their close cousins, remote school districts.

As the school year winds down and the temperature rises, a feeling of summer and freedom washes over young students. The last thing on their mind is more homework and reading. But what happens when these young minds sit idle for three months? It is a fact that children who read over the summer retain more information and gain reading skills, while those who do not will frequently slide backward.

These days, biking and walking to school may seem to be a tradition of past generations. InspirED recently chatted with Katie Johnson, the Safe Routes to School program coordinator at the Michigan Fitness Foundation, to find out what's being done to encourage healthy -- and green -- ways to get to school.

Place-based education and environmental stewardship combine in a statewide initiative to help northwest Michigan's next generation become good stewards of the Great Lakes.

Through our partnership with Northwest Michigan Second Wave and Mid-Michigan Second Wave, InspirED Michigan visits a Muskegon County program called Read Early, Read Often, aimed at getting the youngest among us to read every day -- and their parents, too. It's doing it through a widespread effort to change the culture of the community into one that emphasizes reading.

Earlier this month, hundreds of Michigan’s most passionate educators, public servants and business leaders gathered in the RenCen for GES15, the Governor’s Education and Economic Summit. InspirED Michigan Editor Kate Snyder brought us back this report.

One of our most popular stories wasn't written by a journalist or teacher. It was a story written by a student, passionate about his very unique -- and stunning -- experience attending Beaver Island Lighthouse School, and learning the true meaning of a school community.

One day -- the 22^nd of every month. One district -- Alanson Public Schools. One color -- orange. These three things may seem disjointed but when put together you get a powerful movement toward bullying awareness.

Imagine a future where every Michigan student not only went to college, but started that collegiate career before they even left high school. What would that mean for our state? For our high school graduation rates? For our economy? For the kids who are often forgotten? For those struggling to break out of poverty?

Leeza LaLonde has faced a lot of doubt on her journey to become a runner for Petoskey's cross country and track and field teams. Every step of the way, however, she's refused to take no for an answer.