Collaborating teachers are selected from teachers working with the same grade level and curriculum but in different school buildings.

• A unit of social studies is chosen as the focus topic.
• A theme that supports the essential questions is identified.
• Teachers meet and brainstorm various ways to “connect across classrooms.” Students benefit from the authentic audience the partner school supplies.
• Teachers focus on innovative ways for students to share knowledge with and learn from peers in the partner school.
• Connections Across Classrooms provides a real life opportunity for students to think about, read about, talk about, and write about and share with others what they are learning.
• Student work and projects are created knowing their peers from a neighboring school are an interested audience.
• Teachers seek administrative support for the project ideas.
• The project is designed keeping in mind the specific components that will extend to partner schools.
• Based on the NJCCS and the district curriculum, a day by day unit outline and lesson plan is written.
• Teachers coordinate a time schedule for the two schools keeping in mind different events already on school calendars and specific student needs.
• Teachers assign specific responsibilities for the creation of unit materials.
• Teacher confirm a delivery schedule of student work. The schedule will be dependent on the specific unit plan created.
• Teachers facilitate instructional lessons according to the outlined plan.
• Teachers meet at least once a week during the eight week unit.
• Communication also occurs daily via e-mail.