By Elizabeth Hacala
In a world that has been transformed by smart phones, working from home, and video conferencing, you might not be surprised to find that school and teaching methods are changing and evolving as well. Among the goals the Bedford Schools are working on, through the strategic plan, is the development of “coherent, higher order thinking curriculum/student centered learning”.
Students in each grade are developing thinking skills and student-centered learning using different avenues and attentions. The Davis School work is a student’s first step in that learning which will continue all through the Bedford Public Schools.
Kindergarten classes focus on the students and their immediate community. The Davis Town Project is now a thread throughout the entire year, culminating with the Davis Town Celebration at year’s end. First-grade classes focus on the natural world around them. They study the natural world and how it affects them, the science of what happens during the seasons, as well as social science questions, such as, “How can I be a good citizen throughout the seasons?” Second-grade classes focus on studying the continents. Students have the opportunity to dig deeper into the subjects they are interested in: land forms, customs, animals, etc.
There are set learning expectations for each grade level, but classrooms take different paths, determined by the needs of the class and passions of the teacher. Although the avenues for developing thinking skills and student centered learning are different in each grade, each of these foci provide a framework onto which the teachers build a curriculum that integrates science, social studies, and other subjects as appropriate.
Small groups of classrooms work together to share what they have learned, providing an opportunity for students to teach each other about the area they have studied. Through teaching their peers, students are able to reinforce what they learned while also building important social skills.
To support this activity, teachers have created a curriculum map to help the classes stay aligned even though their individual activities might differ. The map provides a guideline for the classrooms in first and second grade. Principal Beth Benoit explained, “That is what really helps us balance the science of teaching, the art of teaching, and the excitement of children…” This has also been an opportunity for the teachers to work more collaboratively between classrooms.
There is an emphasis on non-fiction reading and writing at Davis, with about a 50/50 mix. The focus on non-fiction helps, in part, to better measure students’ reading comprehension. A student interested in plants might read and write about different plants of another country, then present it to other students. By allowing the curriculum to center on how children learn best and encouraging them to learn about things that excite them, students are encouraged to take ownership for their learning.
Principal Benoit emphasized that there are times that the classrooms at Davis are very much as we remember and that skills are taught singly and explicitly as appropriate. The integrated curriculum portion is successful due to the intention of the teacher who subtly weaves lessons into a variety of classroom activities.
As part of the School Committee meeting on May 9, Principal Benoit presented an update on the Davis School School Improvement Plan. Her presentation can be found on the Davis School website, as can the full improvement plan:
https://www.bedford.k12.ma.us/sites/bedfordps/files/news/2017_2018_school_improvement_plan_presentation_0.pdf
https://www.bedford.k12.ma.us/sites/bedfordps/files/news/17_18_school_improvement_2.pdf
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