Teaching Philosophy

We believe in education that challenges but does not hurry the child.

We believe in empowering children to become positive and responsible contributors to their classroom, community, and the wider world.

We believe that multi-age classrooms afford the opportunity for children to be independent learners, collaborators, and mentors.

We believe that teachers who work as a team offer children an example of a dynamic, on-going, collaborative relationship.

We believe that it is important that children become capable thinkers, readers, writers, mathematicians, artists, and scientists. At the same time, we believe in cultivating an even growth in social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.

We believe in teaching children to speak with honesty and compassion, and to resolve conflicts peacefully.

We believe that teachers are responsible for creating a respectful environment in which children are invited to try new experiences and are encouraged to welcome mistakes as opportunities for learning.

We believe in a flexible curriculum that is a jumping off place for learning, not a set of expectations held rigidly for all.

We believe in hands-on, theme-based learning that integrates the arts and academics.

We believe that participating in a cooperative community school enables parents and teachers to grow and learn alongside the children.