James Ewing

James Ewing is a Grades K-5 STEM/Science & Grade 4 Special Education teacher at Public School 277 in Bronx, New York.

Growing up, Jamie had the opportunity to experience all kinds of educational models, which in part can be attributed to the fact that he had attended 12 different schools by the time he graduated high school! This gave him insight into what amazing teachers can do to inspire learning. Since he knew the positive impact that educators had on students, that inspired him to become an educator as well. However, when Jamie went to college he declared a pre-med major instead, then making another transition to becoming a men’s clothing designer. Jamie became incredibly disillusioned after many years of designing clothes. Eventually, his very wise mother reminded him of his dream of teaching…and the rest is history!

James on Powerful Learning:

What book has influenced your thinking on powerful teaching and learning?

“The 30-Day Creative Challenge by Ed Bell. I took this book and turned it into 100 days of Creative Challenges with my scholars! It is about transforming their ideas of what it means to be creative and it beautifully spilling over into all of their work.”

What’s one strategy teachers can use to incorporate Powerful Learning?

“Connect their work to their real-world experience! Global and social poetry! Instead of doing a basic poetry unit, we used poetry as a platform for our scholars to express why the world matters and why they matter in the world. My students created some of the most beautiful free-verse poems! Their work will be displayed through all of the Bronx, on the LINKNYC digital billboards. It allows students to become agents of change and allows students to create solutions to real-world problems. Additionally, they will build skills such as collaboration, communication, and problem-solving through participating in this activity!”

Ask James about:

“Pushing the limits of learning through Project Based Learning, real-world connections. Engaging coding as a way to show scholar’s learning. If you want to know how to intertwine creative thinking through creative projects. Why passion and play are so important to the learning experience!”

Learn more about HP Teaching Fellows.