Page 8 – Chrysalis School

Let Your Children Take Risks

August 6, 2014 By:Alison McNee

Research: In his Ted Talk entitled “5 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Child Do,” Gever Tulley challenges us to reconsider allowing children to take risks that have been virtually eliminated by modern society. He argues that learning to play with fire, use a pocketknife, or take apart an appliance offers valuable learning opportunities and encourages children to develop their sense of self, their perspective on the world around them, and de-mystify daunting tasks.

Practice: We certainly won’t be throwing spears or playing with fire at school this year, but summertime offers a great window of opportunity to allow kids to stretch their zone of comfort by offering new experiences. As parents we can encourage them to take measured risk by allowing them time to explore and placing such opportunities within their reach.

Teaching to the Brain

July 30, 2014 By:Alison McNee

Research: In his model of how the brain learns, David Sousa emphasizes the importance of experiencing success in accepting or rejecting new learning. When a student experiences success or failure in a learning situation, corresponding positive or negative emotions are connected to it. Success tells the brain to focus on the subject for further processing, while failure creates a block and develops resistance to new learning in that area.

Practice: This is why it’s so important that we create the right educational experience for each student in every subject. If a student has experienced failure in a particular subject there will naturally be resistance that inhibits their flexibility in this area. Under these circumstances we can offer individual courses that can tailor the subject to the student’s interests, abilities, and preferred learning style to start building success and change how the brain reacts to new learning.

Is Your Child Reading Too Early?

July 23, 2014 By:Alison McNee

20131119_101845 Research: A number of studies are beginning to emerge to support the claim that children are learning to read too young. They argue that starting formal schooling at 5 has no long-term benefits, can be damaging to other areas of development, and can affect their self-confidence if they aren’t ready. The new recommendation is for children to begin around age 7, allowing playful learning approaches to take a more prominent place in their development until then.

Practice: At Chrysalis each child is allowed to take the next step in their academic path when they are ready. Since we individualize every student’s program, there is room to develop at their own pace, without ever feeling frustrated, behind, or belittled by the process. With older students who’ve developed a reluctance to read from previous school experiences we start small, hone in on their interests, and get creative with what counts as reading (graphic novels, online content, non-fiction, etc.).

Teachers Need Summer Break Too!

July 16, 2014 By:Alison McNee

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!

Staff 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

College and Chrysalis

July 8, 2014 By:Alison McNee

Research: In looking at numerous college websites and what they’re looking for in students, I came across one that outlines the myriad of skills that students will need in that environment…and only one involves academic preparation! The others include time management, stress management, money management, assertiveness skills, self-care, safety, self-advocacy, respect for rules/boundaries, and perseverance. See more detail here.

Practice: At Chrysalis we can work on many of these areas in the academic context; however, this highlights all that children have to learn outside of school before they leave the nest for college or any other endeavor. Summer is a great time to stretch the boundaries of your child’s independence by having them get involved with basic household chores, taking on projects to specifically develop any of these skill areas, and lovingly guiding them toward making positive choices.

Confident Learners

May 14, 2014 By:Alison McNee

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

May 7, 2014 By:Alison McNee

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

April 23, 2014 By:Alison McNee

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

April 14, 2014 By:Alison McNee

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.

Individual Playlists

March 26, 2014 By:Alison McNee

Research: Teacher and blogger Matt Levinson writes about the potential the Internet holds for engaging student learning. He argues that educators should capture students’ natural fascination with technology to use it to our advantage, creating individual “playlists” of learning resources for every student. Beyond that, it’s just as important to teach students the responsibility that comes with so much information, learning which resources to trust and how to use them.

Practice: Our teachers are not restricted to the methods or materials they use to obtain their class goals. Chrysalis teachers are encouraged to be creative and resourceful in creating their classes and choosing course content. Furthermore, students are encouraged to be part of the process so that their coursework reflects their interests. You’ll see our students using a variety of resources to support their learning, from smart phones and ipads to online textbooks and videogames.

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