Breakout EDU Spotlight: Lisa Moe
Lisa Moe
5th-grade Teacher and Gifted & Talented Education Coordinator
What is your favorite thing about Breakout EDU?
My favorite thing about Breakout EDU is that it truly is an engaging experience for ALL of my students. There is something for everyone and an opportunity for each of my students to be able to discover new skills and build confidence. It is an experience that is student-led and allows my students to feel empowered through every challenge.
What do your students say about Breakout EDU?
“Breakout EDU is awesome! I get to play and work through problems that help me learn” - 5th Grade Student
I do not think there is a day when my students don’t ask if we will be completing a Breakout EDU, participating in Lock of the Day, or creating their own! Whether distance learning or together in the classroom it has always been the perfect way to build community within my classroom and engage my students in their learning!
What SEL skills have been fostered as your students take part in Breakout EDU games?
I have always found it essential to nurture social-emotional learning while providing my students with the tools for self-empowerment. Not only are my students learning how to work together through collaboration, communication, and critical thinking…whatever label they carry with them in their educational career (Gifted, RSP, English Learner, etc.) Through Breakout EDU, my students remove their societal labels and limitations and instead, use their curiosity, creativity, and learning to pay it forward. If we can grow the confidence and nurture empathy, compassion, and respect in our students through opportunities of engagement, they will use these opportunities to make a positive difference in our world.
Can you give an example of how your students have shown grit using Breakout EDU?
As my school site GATE (Gifted & Talented Education) Coordinator, I set up a Breakout EDU game using both the kit and the digital platform for my after-school GATE students. The students’ ages range between 3rd-6th grade, which means collaboration and grit can present themselves as additional challenges. However, after some time working out the challenges, they began to work together and divide and conquer the challenge. It was an amazing experience to witness the older students mentor the younger students, while also seeing the younger students build confidence to share their knowledge and overcome the obstacles.
Describe how Breakout EDU aligns to your school or district strategic plan.
My district’s vision statement reads: “Every student has the knowledge, skills, motivation, and resilience to thrive in a diverse global community.”
Breakout EDU is a necessary tool to engage students, encourage and support creative expression, problem-solving, digital citizenship, and develop proactive leaders- today. By exposing and inspiring students of all backgrounds to BreakoutEDU, it enhances opportunities for equity and representation, while strengthening 21st-century learners.
What are you most interested in using Breakout EDU for at your school?
My school is a STEAM Magnet School that emphasizes Project-Based Learning and hands-on engagement opportunities. Breakout EDU aligns with our school’s vision for our students and allows our students to be leaders in their learning.
Anything you’d like to share?
Breakout EDU is ENRICHING, keeps my Scholars ENGAGED, and most of all, it is for EVERYONE. Confidence grows when we each get to share our individuality and minds with one another!