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Archives for Teacher Insight

The “Aha” Series: ‘I AM funny!’—Arts in Middle School

This week, we asked some of our Middle School arts specialists to share a favorite story that illustrates a moment of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Meri-Lee Mafera—Music
The Middle School music elective this spring is a course that studies various national anthems from around the [...]

The “Aha” Series: The Final Reckoning in Middle School Spanish

This week, we asked Lynda Jackson, our Middle School Spanish instructor, to share a favorite story that illustrates a moment of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Lynda’s Final Exam Story
As the end of the school year approaches, I think of many Aha moments I encountered [...]

The “Aha” Series: In Middle School, Not Speaking in Class is Not the Same as Not Paying Attention

This week, we asked our Middle School literature teacher, Shelley Sommer, to share a favorite story that illustrates a moment of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Shelley’s Quiet One Story
During one of my Middle School literature discussion groups, we were reading a novel about the [...]

The “Aha” Series: Thinking More Deeply in Middle School

This week, we asked Derek Stolp, our Middle School math teacher, to share a favorite story that illustrates a moment of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Derek’s Fractal Story
Every day in school, children are working at the boundaries of their knowledge. And, every day, they [...]

The “Aha” Series: In Middle School, the Whole is Bigger than the Sum of Its Parts

This week, we asked Tschol Slade, our Middle School humanities teacher, to share a favorite story that illustrates a moment of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Tschol’s Story
A recent example was at Model United Nations in March, when our middle schoolers got together with hundreds of other [...]

The “Aha” Series: A Slightly Altered View in Middle School

This week, we asked our Middle School director, Julie Kelly-Detwiler, to share a favorite story that illustrates a moment of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Julie’s Internship Story
Adolescence is a time of trying things on, making the theory real, taking a step closer to adulthood. Internships [...]

The “Aha” Series: Fingers that Grow in Elementary Art Class

This week, we asked Pam Golden, our Lower and Upper Elementary art specialist, to share some  favorite stories that illustrate those moments of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks for a student and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Pam’s Clay Story
As a professional sculptor, Pam’s rich artistic life is [...]

The “Aha” Series: Can Learning the Virginia Reel be Fun? in Movement Class

This week, we asked Colleen Quinn, our Lower and Upper Elementary movement instructor, to share a favorite story that illustrates that moment of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks for a student and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Colleen’s Virginia Reel Story
“Aha! Dancing CAN be fun!”
The Upper Elementary students [...]

The “Aha” Series: When the Cannons Go Off in Music

This week, we asked Meri-Lee Mafera, our Lower and Upper Elementary music specialist, to share some of her favorite stories that illustrate those moments of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks for a student and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Meri-Lee’s Cannon Story
It constantly amazes and delights me when [...]

The “Aha” Series: ‘Me gusta la sandía!’ and Other Epiphanies in Elementary Spanish

This week, we asked Lynda Jackson, our Lower and Upper Elementary Spanish instructor to share some of her favorite stories that illustrate those moments of joyful discovery when an idea really clicks for a student and the “aha!” epiphany brings new life to learning.

Lynda’s “Me gusta la sandía” Story
In Lower Elementary Spanish, the children have spent [...]