Learning at the School House uses arts-integration and project-based curriculum.

The Catie Show: Interview with Kate Sessions

Our Students…

…are curious!

…learn to think critically

…master new skills at their own pace

…form a unique community of friendship, respect and caring

…respect and connect with nature and animals

…are wholly prepared for their next academic step

Why choose the School House?

  • Our students learn and progress at an individual pace in each academic area. We, as teachers, set a standard of excellence in their completed projects or presentation which reflects their best work and gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment.

  • The curriculum’s overarching theme is divided into several units across the scope of the school year. Each unit is explored through a project including a driving question, research and investigation, collaboration, revision and refinement as well as presentation.

  • The School House is a one-room school house model with children ages 7-12.

    The Konnectors, ages 5-6-7 also spend time working with our School House students.

  • Specific lessons are created for language arts, social studies/history and math with a focus on arts integration.

    “Arts integration employs strategies that build a strong platform for deep and meaningful learning. Students do not merely acquire information; they process and apply it. Observing, recording, organizing, collaborating, planning, practicing, revisiting, making predictions, experimenting, and communicating are among the life and career skills that are enhanced through arts integration.”

    - Martha Burdette 2011

  • The maximum number of students in our class is 15 with 2 teachers.

  • In addition to our cozy, comfortable indoor classroom, we are on a beautiful farm with frequent exposer to nature and animals.

  • Multiple opportunities throughout the school year for interaction and collaboration with other educational programs at the Farm and in the local communities.

  • Learning Centers are an integral part of the School House classroom with areas specifically created for Numbers (math games, activities, books, tools, manipulatives, and problem solving), Words (the library, prompts for writing, poetry tiles, sentence building, word lists, magnetic letters, and more) and Arts (a piano, musical instruments, listening center, visual art supplies and more). The outdoors is our Science Lab!

What is Arts Integrated Curriculum?

Institute for Arts Integrations & STEAM:

Arts integration is an approach to teaching and learning through which content standards are taught and assessed equitably in and through the arts.

How it works:

  • Students become active participants in their learning when the arts are intentionally integrated. This in turn, provides an opportunity for students to own the learning and have a vested interest in their own success.

  • Students engage in critical thinking and construct personal meaning through the arts. They develop the skills to work through problem-solving and to innovate new solutions. This builds grit and perseverance capacities in all learners.

  • Yields an equitable learning environment for all learners through their own access points, regardless of age and academic level.

  • Provides Connective Learning and furnishes a researched-based pathway to teaching 21st century learning skills and natural avenues for differentiation.

  • Bonus! Students improve their knowledge of and skills in the arts: music, dance, theater and visual arts.

Innate Learning

  • The learning objectives encompass all elementary academic areas in keeping with the Massachusetts state frameworks included but not limited to:

    Language Arts

    STEM

    History/Culture

    Arts: Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts

    Nature/Environment

    Outreach/Community

    Social Emotional Learning

    21st Century Skills

  • Project-based learning will focus on individual contributions within the framework of team-building and developing each student’s learning experiences in:

    Curiosity/Driving Questions

    Inquiry/Innovation

    Reflection/Revision

    Content Exploration

    Voice & Choice

    Public Presentation

Unique Learning Plans

We believe every student should have a plan for achieving their personal, academic and social emotional goals.

Each student works individually to better their skills and reach personal goals throughout the year with the state frameworks as a guide.

The Unique Learning Plan is integrated with the full school experience of projects and team work of the overarching curriculum.

Most learning is integrated within the projects, but there is additional individual time in the learning centers or in small groups provided in the weekly schedule. Assessment is recorded by ongoing observations made by the teachers.

Meet the Team