Real-World Learning for ALL

Written by: Matt Sessler, LSR7 School District

My favorite part about my 13 years of teaching in the field of special education is being able to connect authentic experiences from the real world to the classroom. The direct connection is so invaluable not only for students who receive special services but also for ALL students. 

Through the Kauffman RWL initiative, I have had the pleasure of collaborating with teachers across the metro area on how to create client-connected projects for students from special populations. The backgrounds range from elementary, secondary, and alternative placements. What this tells me is that a large-scale initiative like this is being implemented not for a select group of students to “showcase” some new trend in education but rather to create a meaningful impact on ALL students’ outcomes.

One of my favorite things about this work is that the group of amazing teachers I get to work with have the same sentiment of “finally”. The nature of this work has always at some level been known to be good for kids. With the backing of this initiative through Kauffman, teachers now have the “green light” to go full force on connecting students to authentic work with community business partners to solve real-world problems. 

As we go through this journey, one exciting piece is that it is not a fad or a one-and-done situation. The ability to meet with teachers throughout a school year to help implement market-value assets sets the stage for the concept to be replicated throughout their teaching careers. 

This initiative and the work the teachers are doing will increase the sense of inclusion not only in schools but in the community. Businesses and future employers will get to see firsthand the capability of students when allowed to perform. This will do wonders for presumed competence and start to create meaningful connections for students after they exit their schools. The connections made and networking done by teachers and RWL coordinators will bridge the gap to create community engagement on a level not seen before. To say the least, it’s been a pleasure working with my group of teachers, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!