Seeking Educators to Join the Maine Solutionaries Project

Students currently in Maine classrooms will graduate into a world filled with complex, interrelated challenges. Maine educators need access to innovative tools to foster students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills and equip learners with the skills needed to analyze and address multifaceted issues. To ensure that Maine educators have what they need, the Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Innovative Teaching and Learning is collaborating with the Institute of Humane Education (IHE). Together, both teams are excited to offer Maine’s educators a unique opportunity to delve into professional learning centered around IHE’s Solutionary Framework and Solutionary Micro-credential Program, as well as access to other customized instructional resources.

The partnership between IHE and the Maine DOE seeks to inspire and support educators to cultivate a generation of Solutionaries, change makers capable of effectively addressing and resolving real-world problems. The expanded Maine Solutionaries Project will provide high quality cohort-based professional learning opportunities for teachers to learn how to facilitate inquiry-to-action projects with their students and make available resources to support real-world, transdisciplinary, project-based learning.

“I am so delighted that we have this opportunity to partner with the Maine Department of Education to bring the Solutionary Framework to teachers and students throughout Maine” says Zoe Weil, IHE’s co-founder and president and author of the book used in the course, The World Becomes What We Teach.

The Maine DOE believes it is important for students to develop the agency, optimism, and skills they need to address problems they care about in their schools and communities. Solutionary teaching and learning is a highly engaging flexible approach to improving students’ knowledge, skills, and confidence.

Use this Maine Solutionaries Project registration link to sign up for this exciting project.

Interested in learning more? The Maine DOE and IHE are scheduling two informational webinars for educators.

Wed March 6 3:30-4:30 https://mainestate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jBR-2FQzRS6TchfaCdsEZQ

Tuesday March 12 3:30-4:30 https://mainestate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6zCY94ZNTGCjhBQBS6Tdjg

During the webinars you will be able to:

Learn more about the Maine Solutionaries Project
Preview the Solutionary Framework, a flexible process to guide inquiry to action projects
Find out how you can participate in one of the cohorts focused on topics like Climate Change, Food Waste, Plastics Pollution and Water Quality.
Discover the ability to earn educator stipends and additional funding to support Solutionary student projects

The Maine DOE utilized federal emergency relief funding to offer this program to Maine educators.

For questions related to the Maine Solutionaries Project, please contact Kathy Bertini, Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Coordinator, Office of Teaching and Learning/Innovation, at kathy.bertini@maine.gov.

Interdisciplinary Resource Highlight for Black History Month: Question Formulation Technique

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction team has curated resources of content and instructional approaches to help educators include and highlight the important contributions of Black and African-American Mainers in authentic ways. These project-based strategies include finding local historical figures and guest speakers, researching local history, and bridging content areas.

Project-based learning begins with a question that connects students to real-world explorations. This approach can lead to a deeper, richer understanding of content, including Black and African-American histories. Some examples of using questioning in your classroom are:

The Question Formulation Technique, a questioning strategy, begins with a Question Focus, which is a word, statement, or primary source that sparks questions.
- The Question Focus can guide students toward thoughtful inquiries regarding Black and African American studies in Maine. An example could be showing an image of Malaga Island or a statement like African Americans have made important contributions to Maine.
- Students can generate questions about the QFocus.
- Students can categorize and prioritize their questions for further inquiry.
- From there, students can form inquiry circles of similar questions to investigate Black and African American studies in Maine.
- Older students could engage in Socratic seminars, find and analyze primary sources.
Using questions to guide a unit of study on both historical and current figures and events
- Invite students to research a historical or current figure who interests them or guide your class through a whole-group project.
- Invite a guest speaker to your class and have your students develop questions to guide the conversation. Use the discussion to create a presentation, like a Slideshow, art exhibition, or performance.
- Use student-developed questions when visiting historic places. This approach provides a purpose for the trip and keeps students engaged in the visit. The questions can be used to develop presentations and projects after the trip.
Using questions to promote civic engagement in students’ communities
- Questions could lead students to investigate important topics in their community, both historical and current. These investigations could spur students to take informed actions in their community.

To support questioning in the classroom, the Maine DOE has collaborated with the Right Question Institute on a three-week asynchronous course on the Question Formulation Technique (QFT). Developed by The Right Question Institute, the QFT is a simple strategy for teaching students, educators, and community members to ask their own questions. The QFT integrates into the existing curriculum and enhances many other kinds of learning, including project- and concept-based learning. It is a wonderful strategy to begin researching local Black and African-American people and history.

For more information about the course see the Maine DOE newsroom notice, including how to register.

For more resources on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching Black History click on this link.

For more information about interdisciplinary instruction, please contact Kathy Bertini, Interdisciplinary Instruction Coordinator at kathy.bertini@maine.gov

InnovatED: Igniting Innovation in Education

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) MOOSE team and the Interdisciplinary Instruction team are excited to announce a FREE virtual workshop day with John Spencer, Katie Novak, and Lynn Cuccaro on March 28th. This day-long workshop will feature morning keynotes from all three speakers and your choice of a two-hour afternoon breakout session with either John, Katie, or Lynn.

Sign up here to be part of the virtual workshop. Limited spots may become available for in-person workshops at the Senator Inn in Augusta. If you are interested in this, sign up for the virtual workshop and indicate whether you would be interested in participating in person in Augusta if the opportunity were available.

Descriptions of keynotes and workshops are available on the workshop web page. For further information reach out to

This opportunity is a collaboration between the Maine Online Open-Source Education (MOOSE) project and the Interdisciplinary Instruction Team. The MOOSE project is funded entirely (100%) through Federal money under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP) totaling $4,598,000 for the current 2023-2024 funding cycle.

Webinar: Asking the Right Questions

The “Asking the Right Questions” webinar will review methods and resources focused on the art of framing questions for the best possible student growth. The webinar will offer practical classroom methods and approaches for all grades–from pre-K to high school–that are supported by current research and instructor experiences. It will also include a host of useful resources readily available for teacher use, and end with a Q&A session where participants can explore concepts further, offer their own experiences, and exchange ideas.

When: Thursday, February 29, 04:00 PM – 05:00 PM
How: Register here
Additional Info: Continuing Education credits will be offered.

We hope you will join us for this informative and engaging webinar. For more information reach out to Maine DOE Humanities Teacher Fellowship Team – James St. Pierre James.St.Pierre.@maine.gov and Dorie Tripp Dorie.Tripp@maine.gov.

Interdisciplinary Resource Highlight for Black History Month: American Ancestors Family History Curriculum

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction team has curated resources of content and instructional approaches to help educators include and highlight the important contributions of Black and African-American Mainers in authentic ways. These project-based strategies include finding local historical figures and guest speakers, researching local history, and bridging content areas.

Our first resource highlight is the American Ancestors Family History Curriculum. Developed by experts at American Ancestors (a project of the New England Historic Genealogical Society), this free-to-access national curriculum is designed to expose students in grades 4 through 8 to the concepts, benefits, and joys of family history. Each lesson incorporates authentic methodologies used by professional genealogists that include but go beyond the family tree. Grounded in inquiry-based practices, these methods include:

developing research skills
conducting interviews
examining primary sources
empowers students to create a historical narrative for and about themselves

Using case studies, which are compilations of primary sources about a person, is one strategy to make genealogy accessible and a way to incorporate Black and African-American history into classrooms. In a collaborative effort, the Maine DOE offers case studies of important Mainers that support the American Ancestors/NEHGS curriculum. Two case studies highlight the important contributions of African American Mainers. Students can use these case studies to explore the life of Gerald E. Talbot, Maine’s first African-American legislator, and John Jenkins, the first African American to be elected to the Maine State Senate.

Download this clickable PDF for a full list of Maine case studies.

For more resources on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching Black History click on this link.

For more information about interdisciplinary instruction, please contact Kathy Bertini, Interdisciplinary Instruction Coordinator at kathy.bertini@maine.gov

Asynchronous Course: Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique

In February, the Maine Department of Education (DOE) Interdisciplinary Instruction Team celebrates the love of the question by hosting a course called Question, Reflect, Repeat: Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique. In collaboration with the Right Question Institute, the Maine DOE is hosting a three-week asynchronous course on the Question Formulation Technique (QFT). The QFT is a questioning strategy that:

Facilitates student curiosity and engagement
Helps students build confidence to ask questions and become empowered to seek answers
Improves student questions that support deeper learning
Improves the skills and strategies students need beyond the classroom

Some of the Learning Goals for this course are:

Understand the what, how, and why behind the QFT
Identify best practices for effective ways to design, facilitate, and adapt the QFT for specific purposes, including interdisciplinary and conceptual learning
Create, revise, and implement a plan for using the QFT in your own setting

On February 29th, the asynchronous portion of the course begins as we leap into the love of questions. On March 5th, there is a Zoom kick-off webinar from 3:30-4:30pm. The live webinar is an active, collaborative, experiential learning experience that lays important groundwork for the rest of the course. If possible, please arrange to attend live. If this is not feasible, the webinar will be recorded and available 24 hours after.

Intended Audience: PK-12 Teachers & Administrators
When: February 29-March 28; March 5th – a live webinar from 3:30-4:30
Where: Maine DOE EnGiNE Platform; one Zoom webinar
Contact Hours: 12 contact hours available upon completion
How: Click here to register.

For more information on this course, please contact Jaime Beal, Interdisciplinary Instruction Specialist at jaime.beal@maine.gov

Interdisciplinary Unit Prompts Nokomis Students to Create Small Businesses to Raise Money for Class Activities

On an abnormally warm December day at Nokomis Middle School in Newport, the 8th-grade class is having a fundraiser called “The Maine Sampler.” This fundraiser is more than students asking for money; it is an interdisciplinary unit that spans multiple disciplines and allows students to practice their communication skills, perseverance, creativity, and reflection.

Every year before the winter holidays, students work with their Social Studies and ELA teachers to develop a creative Maine-made product they will mass produce and sell to the public. Social Studies teachers Dan Decker and Lucas Jewett work with students for five weeks to apply their knowledge of economics to an authentic entrepreneurship experience. They start by picking partners and developing ideas. Dan explained, “Students tend to focus on baked goods, but we encourage them to reach out to family and friends with unique skills.” Lucas added, “We encourage them to be mindful of their partners, too. Going into business as an adult requires you to be mindful of who you pick as a business partner.” Students take this advice to heart because all the money they make will be used for field trips, their 8th-grade trip, and the 8th-grade recognition event. Once the teams decide on an idea, they calculate the cost of materials and set their prices. Parents provide all the supplies, but there is also financial assistance for any family that needs it. Students’ “homework” is to mass produce their products.

As they develop their business plans in social studies, they are working on advertising and marketing in ELA. Their teachers, Sarah Murray and Mariah McGuire support advertising through student-created web pages that describe their products and create aesthetically pleasing and informative posters for their tables. Each website includes images and descriptions of the product, a mission statement, and important background information.

On the day of the event, students gather in the gym to set up their tables, decorate them with handmade posters and accessories, and lay out their products. Members of the public and students in the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades will wander around purchasing the student-made products with tickets that they purchase at the ticket table. With the support of math teachers Makenzie Wheeler and Sue Orcutt, students at the ticket table convert every dollar into a ticket that can be used to purchase items or enter raffles. During the two and a half hours, students will communicate with adults and peers to explain and sell their products.

“This is a way to promote a business I already have,” Bentley Lane explained. “When my grandfather and I go hunting, we find deer antlers. He taught me how to process and mount them, and I have built a business selling them.”

Naomi Millet expressed similar feelings about learning about business and economics work. “Learning the economics of selling things is interesting.” Naomi also added she liked being creative, seeing her ideas become products, and working with her friends.

After the event, students will focus on reflection and application. Dan and Lucas will work with students to reflect on the event through the social and financial lens. They will also create opportunities for students to look at applications of their learning beyond the Maine Sampler event. Bentley has already started applying what he has learned. “I like this type of learning because I am applying what I learn to my current business.”

To view the students’ products, follow this link to the “The Maine Sampler.”

Subscribe to the Maine DOE Interdisciplinary Instruction Newsletter

Are you looking for ways to enhance your instructional practices and transfer your students’ learning to the next level? Look no further. The Interdisciplinary Instruction team has created a monthly newsletter that you can subscribe to. This newsletter will highlight innovative interdisciplinary classroom resources and upcoming professional learning opportunities.

To subscribe, click the link below, fill in your contact information, and click “Interdisciplinary Instruction” in the “subscribe me to” section. When we publish a new newsletter, it will automatically arrive in your inbox.

Subscribe here (If you are already subscribed to Maine DOE publications like the Maine DOE Update or other newsletters we publish when you submit your information, you will be redirected to update your preferences.)

For further questions or help, reach out to Interdisciplinary Instruction Team Coordinator Kathy Bertini at kathy.bertini@maine.gov.

Book Study: Asynchronous Cognitive Science

Cognitive science can offer educators an understanding of how students learn so they can apply it to their practice. Interacting with cognitive science can be challenging though. If you are interested in learning more about cognitive science in a simple yet informative way, this book study is for you.

The book, “Why Don’t Students Like School,” by Daniel T Willingham is an education-focused dive into the cognitive science of how students learn. This 11-week asynchronous book study will allow participants to reflect on their current practice while discovering and applying new knowledge. A free copy of the book will be mailed to your school, and each participant can receive up to 17 contact hours. The book study starts on January 22, 2024.

To join, click this Book Study link and fill out the form. Please email any questions to erik.wade@maine.gov.

Students Practice Real-world Science Through Salmon Spawning with State Biologists

The fishery on Mill Street in Raymond was swimming with hands-on science in late November as ecology and recently arrived immigrant students from Windham High School (WHS) helped Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) scientists weigh, measure, and spawn Sebago Lake land-locked salmon from Panther Run.

The students assisted IFW field biologists express eggs from female salmon that were immediately fertilized by the male salmon. They helped to weigh, measure, and return the fish into the Sebago Lake watershed.

The aim of salmon spawning along the shores of Sebago Lake is to support Maine ecology and replenish healthy salmon numbers for fishing purposes. The late chilly November morning provided the students with an essential hands-on adventure, giving them a chance to see ecological purposes and science at work.

“When students graduate from WHS, we hope they are leaving with skills and practices of science that they can carry into any field they enter,” WHS science and ecology teacher, Lindsay Hanson said. “The experience highlighted the importance of asking good scientific questions, analyzing and interpreting data, and constructing explanations in science.”

Hanson continued, stating that students observed these skills being used in a real way. “We were able to listen to the IFW biologists discussing new trends they were seeing in this salmon population and posing new questions they would later investigate using the data they were gathering. Scientific curiosity at work.”

It was also a special treat for the new Maine students from Angola, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and France who all had a chance to connect their learning [of Maine] outside of the classroom setting.

“It provided the opportunity to see how academic language and the content and skills they learn in school are used professionally,” Elizabeth Moran, RSU14’s Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) said.

Moran also said that her students were excited to hold the fish, strip the salmon for fertilization, and help collect data.

“They enjoyed being a part of the actual process of helping to produce the next generation of salmon in Maine,” she said. “This kind of work is authentic and contagious, and it inspires students to learn in a creative and fun way.”

The spawning of salmon from Sebago Lake has been happening for many years and occurs every fall in conjunction with the fish’s natural cycle to swim upstream. In this case Panther Pond from Sebago Lake.

“During the second week of November, we open up the dam on Panther Pond to draw the fish up the river from Sebago Lake,” Stephen Twemblay, IFW Fish Culturalist supervisor said. “Since they can’t get through the dam, the salmon swim up a fish ladder into the fish hatchery. We then separate the male and female fish. Both are differentiated by fin clip class [fins clipped in different areas depending upon the year, denoting the age of salmon]. We do this so we always know how old that fish is to provide the best genetic variable.”

After the eggs are spawned and counted, they are transported to the fish hatchery in Casco where they are incubated through the winter. In the spring, most of the salmon are returned to Sebago Lake to keep up with the demand for fishing. The rest of the eggs are sent to other hatcheries around the State and to other State agencies in the U.S.and Canada as needed.

This real-world experience showed students the various ways science plays a role in our lives.

“I always tell my students that loving science doesn’t mean you need to be a scientist,” Hanson said. “There are environmental lawyers, policymakers, and computer engineers working in science-based companies, etc. Pairing an interest in science with a focus on another sector can be an avenue to explore. It is difficult for students to see how science incorporates into real-life situations or see what careers related to science might look like. Most scientists don’t wear lab coats and it was great to see that scientists also wear Muck boots and go fish.”

This story was provided by Lorraine Glowczak, Director of Community Connections & Storytelling Ambassador for RSU 14. To submit a story or an idea, email Rachel Paling at rachel.paling@maine.gov.