At The Woods, we believe that homework is an effective learning tool. Homework can reinforce lessons introduced in class and allow students to gain mastery of materials and skills. Homework can also aid in the development of independent learning skills like time management and personal responsibility. In addition, homework gets parents and caregivers involved with their child’s school life. It creates a communication network between home and school.

“Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence.” – Maria Montessori

When they meet their incoming students, kindergarten and first-grade teachers everywhere are looking for school readiness, not necessarily specific reading, writing, or mathematical skills. Many readiness skills are life skills! Expectations are age-appropriate.

2nd grade students closed out their units by, creating a shark brochure/trifold. This trifold includes what they know about sharks, what students want to know, what they have learned, four facts about sharks, creative writing, and shark labels.

We're all working towards the same goal, which is helping the students here work towards being their best selves.

After over a year of Zoom music classes, I am thrilled to have my upper school students back in-person! At last, we’re all in the same room making music together! Drum circles are the perfect way to jump back in.

Since September 15th, the World Language Department has been celebrating Hispanic Heritage month in its Spanish language classes.

As a way to connect financial literacy, I decided to have a classroom economy system in the 7th grade math classes. The students each have a job in the classroom, but unlike last year, they receive a salary each month for completing their job.

The lower school students have been expanding their knowledge of empathy and learning more about what it takes to support a friendship.

At the end of the day each Friday, fourth graders spend time on Socioemotional Learning (SEL). Equally as important as multiplication, reading, and writing, SEL helps us learn to manage negative emotions, problem solve, and build relationships with each other. Many recent studies show that the inclusion of SEL in a curriculum actually increases students’ success in the other traditional subjects.

Robotics is a great way to learn STEM. It’s interdisciplinary and fun, just ask the fifth graders! They are developing code for a virtual robot to complete various missions and building their own robots to code for challenges.

Seventh graders have been learning how to talk about trips and reviewing essential regular and irregular verbs. To practice all of these elements together, they completed an activity that required them to put a jumbled story back in order.