SBCA’s Focus on Authentic and Connected Learning
Grade 2 Students complete a STEM Science experiment
Written Jamie Brown
Preschoolers running their own grocery store.
In grades K2-6, our Literacy Program, in collaboration with Lesley University and The Literacy Collaborative, seeks to establish an authentic love of reading and writing in all of our students. Through workshop model experiences, students explore text in a way that engages them as readers. Students participate in read alouds to make note of text structure, reading groups and book clubs to share and discuss text with peers and independent reading where they can apply their learning. Additionally, students work in writing workshop to practice being authors of their own stories.
In the upper grades, instruction of English/Language Arts and Social Studies, as well as religion, have been rethought to be more integrated and thoughtful in order to promote student understanding. Units of study around the American Revolution and regions of the United States are improved through the use of more primary sources and text versus the traditional textbook.
Study and learning in the sciences and mathematics has been bolstered by shifting our thinking towards more STEM education, and thinking of how we can integrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics in a way that helps students make sense of the world around them. Students in grade 6 recently created a “Christmas Village” that asked students to construct gingerbread houses from nets and then calculate various aspects of their structure, including finding volume as well as calculating surface area. Through our work with Engineering is Elementary and the Museum of Science, students in grade 3 have been learning about technology around them and collaborating to on the design and construction of magnetic levitation trains. SBCA continues to utilizes innovative technology to further student learning, including 3D printers and virtual reality headsets.
Students learning to play the ukulele afterschool.
SBCA continues to acknowledge how important it is for the study of our Catholic faith to be deeply rooted in the world around us as well as build a sense of community. Students study their faith, as well as act out their faith through monthly masses and celebrations of holy days and the liturgical seasons. We continue to root our faith in service and kindness towards others. Students at SBCA continually seek to help the world around them, and has lead several service projects this year including a School Supply Drive for victims of Hurricane Harvey, as well as drives supporting Breast Cancer Awareness, DIPG Awareness and donations to local food pantries at Thanksgiving and The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless “A Bed for Every Child” at Christmas.
Just what we need, more kids getting fed creationism. I suppose it’s much easier to convince someone that a man in the sky created everything on earth when you’re 5 years old. And don’t get me started with the abuse history, I can’t believe people still give a sheckle to these brain washing cults.
STFU Seriously-don’t you have anything better to do besides troll this site all day and add your 2 cents to E-V-E-R-Y single story on here? Go for a walk or something.
At least you’re not denying that the catholic church is a borderline cult at this point.
In all seriousness though, I take about 5 mins out of my day to read the article(s) and maybe another 30 seconds to leave a comment, really isn’t much. if people have a problem with an anonymous, public comment section then maybe it shouldn’t exist in the first place.