Constantly Improving Instruction

Travis Simpson ,a VP for Dell Computers in Winston Salem, spoke today at Rotary. He opened by saying, "If you don't like change, you'll like irrelevancy even less." Travis spoke in reference to how fast the computer industry must change with the innovation of new processes and products in order to meet the increasing demands of the marketplace.

Education doesn't move as fast as the world of technology, but it is changing and innovating faster than ever. New studies of the brain have brought to light new instructional techniques and pedogogical approaches. One such change that Diane Borgmann, our Lower School Director has instituted with her faculty is Differentiated Instruction.

Differentiated instruction provides a more dynamic way to approach teaching and learning for students of differing abilities who are in the same class. The intent of the process is to ensure each student’s growth and individual success by understanding and meeting the student at his or her ability level, and then helping them forward, rather than a "one size fits all" approach. This coming year, an expert in this area will visit on a regular basis to work with our Lower School faculty so that they can improve their instructional techniques.

As other ways to maximize learning for our students come to light, we will be investigating how we can utilize them as well. We want to provide each child with the best instruction we can, and we must change our teaching practices so that our school doesn't become "irrelevant."