Student-Centered Education
Where individual choice drives the experience of learning
Student-Centered Education
Where individual choice drives the experience of learning
Progressive education places students at the center of the educational experience, where they are encouraged to pursue their interests and exercise their natural curiosity. In this way, children become active learners, as teachers guide them to discover the pleasures and rewards of education and develop into adults for whom learning is a lifelong pursuit.
Experiential Learning
Experiential learning is a process by which students learn through a cycle of direct experience, reflection, analysis, and experimentation. It encourages deep learning, inspires personal growth, and promotes active citizenship.
- Student-directed, teacher-guided, student-choice
- Students apply knowledge and skills
- Trial and error, and failure as part of the learning process
- Authentic purpose and meaning-making in real world context
- Rubric and demonstration-based assessments
- Opportunities to reflect and make sense of the experience
Teaching the Whole Child
Teaching the whole child means knowing and nurturing individual children and designing learning opportunities that honor and develop their full identities so they can thrive now as children and grow into happy and fulfilled adults.
- Teacher curiosity and interest in students’ whole selves
- Children and families are known and valued
- Safe and trusting relationships are nurtured
- Differentiated and responsive approaches with opportunities for student-directed learning
- Children are represented in the curriculum, in the classroom, and in the adults on campus
- Growth and support of students’ physical, emotional, academic, ethical, and interpersonal skills is cultivated
- Opportunities are provided for children to learn in a variety of settings and modalities
Inquiry Based
Inquiry based education incorporates student questions, fosters curiosity, and fuels the desire to keep learning. It’s based on the belief that asking good questions leads to success and happiness more than having all the answers.
- Creative, multiple perspectives, and original thinking
- Generative (students generate questions and paths to pursue them)
- Iterative process through which students learn
- Reflective (analyze outcomes and process, incorporate into next learning cycle)
Educating for Democracy
Educating for democracy equips students with the mindset and skills to increase their self-awareness and understanding of complex issues, with the goal of taking responsible action in their communities.
- Creative, multiple perspectives, and original thinking
- Generative (students generate questions and paths to pursue them)
- Iterative process through which students learn
- Reflective (analyze outcomes and process, incorporate into next learning cycle)
- Fostering empathy and awareness of others, including those with differing experiences and viewpoints
- Developing a sense of agency and voice
- Building the knowledge and skills necessary to be informed, participatory, and engaged community members
- Engaging in discourse about power and privilege
CRITICAL THINKING
Opening Up to the Power of Stories
By Tony Stocks, Upper School English teacher
Upper School English teacher Tony Stocks is helping students develop as readers, interpreters, and critics who are open to different perspectives and learn from one another.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Guiding Students to Become Active Participants in Their Education
Interview by Ken Dubois, Editor
Seventh grade math teacher An Nguyen builds literacy and confidence by encouraging students to ask questions, share ideas, and create their own learning.
COMMUNITY
Giving Voice to Artistic Vision
By Ken Dubois, Editor
At the Middle School Spring Arts Show, students are using the creative tools they’ve explored in their arts classes to make their own statements.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Helping Students Deepen Their Knowledge by Applying What They’ve Learned
Interview by Ken Dubois, Editor
With his context-based teaching method, Lower School Mandarin teacher Guimin Tang guides students to find joy and ownership in their language acquisition.
Spirit of Inquiry
Learning from Experience
By Ken Dubois, Editor
Across high desert terrain, rocky tide pools, and an urban landscape, Lower School students explored and made discoveries together on overnight trips.