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Home > School Life > Parent Perspectives: A Rich Curriculum A RICH CURRICULUM Paul and I have always said the curriculum is what we value most about New Morning – it makes learning relevant to the student. Math is made easy to understand through manipulatives and social studies is brought to life through hands-on activities. Language arts take on personal relevance as students are encouraged to write on topics they are interested in, and to choose books they want to read. Science is hands-on with lots of model making and experimentation. Computers are integrated into the curriculum and available for students to work on throughout their day. The arts are also valued – Spanish, music and art are incorporated into the curriculum and taught by specialized teachers. There are many studies that support that education in the arts enhances performance in math, writing and other areas. At New Morning, we've seen what a difference the arts can make. Alan and David were both introduced to the Spanish language in first grade. The study started out fairly simple with colors and numbers and intensified in the middle school years. As Alan finishes up his last year, it is evident he is very comfortable with the language and ready for the next level in high school. Our sons have also grown tremendously through music. Learning to play an instrument in fourth grade was a great confidence builder and provided more time for practice when the homework load was lighter. Music also sparked Alan's interest in new challenges outside of school. Lastly, art itself has taken on meaning as they have learned about different techniques, styles and artists. The curriculum at New Morning is also flexible and respectful. Students are given the freedom and responsibility to organize independent work activities within their day. They are allowed to work at their own pace, moving quickly through areas they can master easily and spending extra time when concepts are more difficult to understand. Goals are set and achieved without letter grades – the focus is on doing one's best and viewing learning as a continual process. Most importantly the curriculum is fluid; it changes with the times. The science and computer technology aspects of the program have grown tremendously since we've been at the school. Fitness has also been enhanced while still keeping swimming as part of the program. The topics of study within different areas also change each year – what one fourth grader studies in social studies is sure to be different than what a fourth grader studies the following year. I've always been impressed with the freshness of class activities when working on the Alumni News, monthly newsletters, auction catalog, summer brochure and other marketing materials. It has been a great co-op position because I can see what's going on in school even though I'm not there during the day. I can always sense the excitement of learning and student comfort of surroundings in the pictures. I can hear the confidence in their ideas through their writing. New Morning School nurtures and encourages our children to grow. It is equally good at being a place our children learn to outgrow. When they leave, students choose the gamut of options from small to large high schools. Wherever they go, they have the academic skills and confidence to succeed. Each Parent Perspective was written by a different New Morning School parent. The names of the parents and children have been changed to protect the confidentiality of parents and children. |
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