Ann Arbor Open Classroom Philosophy
The
key philosophical components of Ann Arbor Open School include:
•Student directed learning
•Social-emotional development as part of the daily
curriculum
•Home-school collaboration to support students
•Parent involvement welcome in the classroom or building
•Instruction in multiage groupings
•Thematic, integrated curriculum
•Honoring and providing for different learning styles
•Democratic decision making including staff, students and
parents
•Valuing diversity
•Assessment of individual progress more important than
comparative ranking
´ “I-SEARCH”:
Self directed, Self Assessment;
Ownership (See more on "I-Search" page)
´ Multicultural
Festival
´ Focus
Studies- Twice a year
´ All
School Community Gatherings- K-8 Houses, ~ 1x month
To foster
K-8 relationships, have fun, share ideas, solve problems, empower students
´ Project
Lead the Way (PLTW) STEM Curriculum: Anessa Nelson- Hands-on
activities, projects and problem-based learning.
Learn
more at: https://www.pltw.org/our-programs/pltw-launch
A Day in the Life...
´ CLASS
MEETING/Community Circle
´ Writing
Workshop
Mini-Lessons
Writing
Time, choice
Sharing
Variety
of Genre: Memoir, Poetry, Letters , I-Search
Reports, Interviews
´ Reading
Workshop
Daily
Reading, Shared Class
Novels, Literature
Circles,Reading
Buddies. Responding
to Literature.
´ Math
Understanding
the number system, problem solving, Computation
tables, Addition and subtraction, multiplication and division
´ Integrated
Thematic Learning,
Starting the year
with migration: Monarch Butterflies
´ Science
Topics: 3rd/4th grade
Habitats,
Earth Systems, Life Cycles, Nature’s
Recyclers,Water
´ Social
Studies topics:
Community/Communication, Geography, Government, Money
Culture:
School-wide Multicultural Festival
´ Other
interests as they emerge!
´ Recess
´ Homework
Daily
Reading at home! 30 minutes
Penmanship:
Manuscript or Cursive, no more than 10 minutes
“I-SEARCH” Proposed I-Search Date
- October
• December
(Multi-Cultural Festival)
• February
(Science Fair)
• April
• Parent Involvement
• Sign
up on sheet
• Support
learning at home
• Send
in snacks (nut, sesame and dairy allergies)
• Attend
parent-teacher conference – PLEASE sign up.
• Since
this is a goal-setting conference, students should plan on attending and
contributing. Please bring your “Parent Input for Student Goal Setting” sheet
along to the conference. Thanks. I look forward to our meeting!
• Annual
Open Classroom Conference and Retreat (March)
• Book
Groups- TBD: Tuesday or Thursday mornings
• Focus
Studies
• Projects
