Personalized Learning at CAES
Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School - Naperville, IL
Personalized Learning, Flexible Seating, Block Schedules, Blended Learning & More...
Why are we changing the structure of the Intermediate Grades?
What is Personalized Learning?
The Benefits of Personalized Learning - STUDENTS come first!
The benefits of a personalized learning program are substantial, especially in comparison to a traditional one-size-fits-all approach. However, there are very few schools who have the resources and tools required do this well. Increasing class sizes in public and parochial schools contribute to the large list of logistical roadblocks that accompany this method of teaching.
At Chesterbrook, our ideal class sizes, 1:1 technology, block schedule, and flexible seating will allow teachers to personalize the learning process for each child. Why is this important? Small group instruction is one of the best strategies for addressing each student's unique needs and interests. Flexible, small group arrangements are used across our entire school as they allow for focused instruction on precisely what a student needs.
“One-size-fits-all education may have been sufficient years ago. It’s not now. Today, a personalized learning approach that uses technology in the classroom to pace instruction to match students’ needs and tailor learning to their interests works—for both learners and teachers."
Personalized Learning Focuses on Skill Mastery-Watch this Video!
What is Flexible Seating?
Why all of the new furniture?
We've seen Google's NY headquarters in the news many times. They have created a "workspace revolution", in which employees are encouraged to work wherever they are comfortable and creativity is encouraged any time of the day. Google recognizes that different work habits are more productive for some than others, and as long as the work gets done, there are no other rules. What is the result? Employees are focused and productive, not stressed. Imagine that!
What if we could create similar collaborative and creative classroom environments for our students? What if we could minimize stress by allowing students to be comfortable while they work? What would that classroom look like? See below!
Our intermediate grade level classrooms will showcase flexible seating options next year. You may see tables or desks raised to standing height, high top tables with stools, tables dropped to floor height with cushions, bean bag chairs, lamp lighting, and more!
Blended Learning - Station Rotation Model
So what does a horizontal agenda look like in the classroom? What will you see?
In a language arts classroom, you will likely see the teacher working with a small group of students, perhaps introducing a new concept or reteaching one that the students haven't mastered yet. You may see another group of students having a discussion about a text they've read and answering some comprehension/analytical questions. You may see another group working independently on their writing pieces, and another group doing some online skill practice (grammar, vocabulary, etc.).
The benefits of a blended classroom are tremendous. The teacher is able to have more face time with individual students, the instruction is personalized to each student's learning needs, the pace moves more quickly because we're not stopping the whole class to answer one student's question or to redirect one student's behavior, and the students are able to take more agency over their own learning.
What are the Benefits of Block Scheduling?
In a traditional classroom setting, one teacher oversees four content areas - language arts, math, science and social studies. She knows the standards for her grade level in and out, but may not have a clear understanding of how the standards progress beyond her particular grade. On the flip side, a content area teacher knows all of the standards across their subject area and understands how the standards progress from one grade level to the next. Once a student has mastered a skill, this teacher knows exactly how to push that student onto a more difficult concept because she understands the how the standards spiral up. This teacher will be able to more adequately challenge the students and personalize their learning tracks by focusing on skill mastery and progression.
Block scheduling also allows teachers to instruct the content areas they are most passionate about, so it's a win for students AND teachers!
Please review the DRAFT Intermediate Block Schedule for the 2018-2019 School Year:
Q & A
Will all three grade levels be together in one classroom?
How will homeroom work?
What is Innovation Class?
Why is STEM education important?
Chesterbrook Academy Elementary School
Email: jenae.kleifges@nlcinc.com
Website: http://www.chesterbrookacademy.com/elementary/chicago/naperville/
Location: 1571 Oswego Road, Naperville, IL, United States
Phone: (630)527-0833
Facebook:
Twitter: @CBANaperville