Action Steps within a Flexible Framework
Looping Structures
The Gilmore School follows the looping model in grades 1-2 and 3-4. Looping is the educational practice of a teacher remaining with the same group of students for more than one school year. For example, a teacher who teaches a third grade class and then goes on to teach the same students, the following year, for the fourth grade.
There are many advantages to this practice, such as:
¨ During the second year, teachers already know their students strengths, needs, and interests which allows for direct, targeted instruction in the first few weeks of school
¨ Students enter school the second year with an awareness of their classroom expectations and routines, their classroom peers, and a sense of predictability of what’s to come.
¨ Improved standardized test scores.
¨ Long term teacher-student relationships have been noted to result in an emotional and intellectual climate that encourages thinking, risk-taking, and involvement.
There are many advantages to this practice, such as:
¨ During the second year, teachers already know their students strengths, needs, and interests which allows for direct, targeted instruction in the first few weeks of school
¨ Students enter school the second year with an awareness of their classroom expectations and routines, their classroom peers, and a sense of predictability of what’s to come.
¨ Improved standardized test scores.
¨ Long term teacher-student relationships have been noted to result in an emotional and intellectual climate that encourages thinking, risk-taking, and involvement.
Professional Development
- Common Planning Time 1x every 6-day cycle for 1 hour
- Faculty Collaboration Meetings 70 minutes per week on Wednesday afternoons
- 2-in-service days per month for professional development
Enrichment
Our Expanded Learning Time is designed to provide students with opportunities that enhance the educational experiences of our students through a differentiated, project based enrichment program in order to achieve maximum growth for each learner. Our programming fits within the themes of character education, community service learning, STEAM, health and fitness, and the arts. Some of our offers are Financial Literacy, Farm to Table Gardening, Chorus, Band, Learn the Piano, Sports & Fitness, Strength & Mindfulness, Community Service Learning, Lego Robotics, Coding, Art Club, Run Club, Theatre Arts & More.