Chrysalis School

Teachers Need Summer Break Too!

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Research: Blogger Joshua Block writes about the importance of summer break for teachers, noting that reflection and rejuvenation are critical parts of the profession to escape the mechanization of routine. Teachers use this time to develop new ideas, engage new experiences, work on their professional development, and gather energy for another big year to come.

Practice: Our teachers are big-time adventurers! They’re volunteering, travelling, hiking, climbing, writing, attending workshops, spending time with family, and much much more this summer! Keep reading our staff highlights all summer long to see what they’re up to and what adventures they’ll have to share with your child!

10403754_10100950675131470_6952113015170804811_oStaff highlights: Maggie Onewein took a trip to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Grand Canyon, where she hiked through beautiful orange canyons and biked the rim of the Grand Canyon. Where have your adventures taken you

 

Confident Learners

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Research: In his argument about the industrialization of schools, Peter Senge argues against the traditional role of the teacher as the locus of control in the classroom, saying that no one teacher should be able to unilaterally judge a child’s performance, ability, style, or behavior. The teacher-as-manager model places undue weight on quantitative measures of performance, fails to acknowledge the subjective nature of assessment, and can negatively influence a child’s confidence as a learner.

Practice: At Chrysalis we recognize the importance of formulating teaching teams to properly assess a child’s progress. Even in our elementary program students are paired with a variety of teachers who coordinate and communicate with one another to gain insight into the needs and nature of the child. Each teacher sees something different in every student, and putting those pieces together to understand how to best serve their needs is one of the things we do best. We share, strategize, and make adjustments until we get it right.

Eliminating Stress to Promote Learning

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Research: Neurologist Judy Willis argues the importance of eliminating stress from the school environment to promote learning. Just as the brain needs stimulating input, it also needs rest to be able to process it. Overstimulation can lead to burnout, which engages filters in the brain that limit the flow of information and inhibit learning. Neurologists often subscribe to the saying, “the brain downshifts under stress.” By contrast, the brain works at optimal levels in positive emotional states.

Practice: At Chrysalis we know we need relaxed brains to work with, so we create conditions that allow for it: allowing students to work at their “just right” level of challenge, reducing competition, creating a positive social culture, allowing students a say in their scheduling, and giving them time during their day to process what they’ve learned and prepare for their next task.

Set the Stage and Then Leave It

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Research: Contrary to popular belief and most school policies, parental involvement in their child’s school life by and large does not improve student achievement. In fact, a study on parental engagement found that higher levels of involvement (including help with homework) often negatively affect achievement. It found that the most important way parents can be involved is by communicating the value of learning to their child. The authors’ best advice to parents is to “set the stage and then leave it.”

Practice: By enrolling your child at Chrysalis you’ve effectively set the stage for your child. We work hard to match your child with the right teachers, ensure they are in a positive environment, and provide the right supports when they need them to ensure their success. It’s all about the journey from dependent to independent learner, which means a more hands-off approach for parents. Parents often ask how they can help support their student and our answer is quite simple: love them unconditionally and be their cheerleader. Teach them all life has to offer beyond academics: show them acceptance, teach them kindness, and model the value of learning.

No Standardized Testing

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Research: Standardized testing is used in many schools to measure student achievement and determine resource allocation on a large scale. At the individual level, however, numerous concerns abound regarding its validity, as noted by researcher Thomas Haladyna. By placing such importance upon these exams, the focus of teaching becomes teaching to the test rather than student learning. Furthermore, student progress is often glossed over or minimized by scores that are based on arbitrary and often developmentally inappropriate criteria.

Practice: At Chrysalis we don’t need to use state standardized testing to assess student learning. The value of small group and individualized instruction is that we can constantly gauge what our students know by assessing them in a variety of ways to determine the breadth and depth of their knowledge. While we will prepare students for the SAT and college by introducing test-taking strategies, we refuse to tie their success to a single number.

Our Campuses

Chrysalis High School and Middle School
15900 Woodinville-Redmond Rd NE
Woodinville, WA p: (425) 481-2228

Chrysalis Elementary Campus
17005 140th Ave NE
Woodinville, WA p: (425) 481-2228

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