Deb Hanley's Colleagues at The Common School
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Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
The Common School
Deb Hanley's Company Details
The world is interesting and learning is fun. So why not teach children to discover this for themselves, using their innate curiosity and their own two hands. At The Common School, students press their own cider, dissect seedpods they find in our garden, design Ancient Egyptian irrigation systems, identify animal tracks in the snow, make gourds into musical instruments, calculate the surface area of a whale, and much more. These interactive, in-depth projects are at the core of our time-tested curriculum.Our teachers not only guide, challenge, and support students, but also encourage them to take ownership of their education. The Common School offers an innovative alternative to traditional education, built on a rigorous and effective academic program. We know because our graduates go on to excel in secondary education and attend some of the best colleges and universities in the country.At The Common School the social and emotional development of children is just as important as their academic growth. Every one of our students knows, when it comes to behavior, there are two key questions: Is it safe? Is it kind?Here, children learn how to collaborate and that each person has something to offer. At daily class meetings, they learn to be good listeners and to respect each other's opinions. If there are breaches of classroom norms, teachers use them as opportunities to foster accountability and problem solving. Coming together, students can learn compassion, resolve conflict, and recognize acts of fairness and kindness.