At South City Community School, story time goes both ways. Students listen to their teacher read before retelling the tale in their own words. During a science lesson, for instance, they might read a biography of Jane Goodall and then give their own synopses, complete with quotes and phrases.
“It helps students pay attention the first time,” says Valerie Barclay, the school’s co-head. “As they get older, they get better and better at listening to the whole story, as well as details.”
The method also allows educators to quickly deduce which students are paying attention and what they’re gleaning from the lesson. They can then meet with a child and address any gaps in learning if needed. “They’re able to find out every day where kids are at,” Barclay says. “The narration is how we do assessment without the kids’ having to sit down and take a pencil-and-paper test.”
Educators at other schools are also moving beyond multiple-choice tests, using interactive programs to heighten students’ engagement. “This is not the day where you can use cookie-cutter lesson plans anymore—not that I was ever a fan of that,” says Margaret Karl, principal of the lower school at Visitation Academy, where students use iPads to create books and to document progress in the school’s greenhouse by taking video of seeds growing into plants.
“Our children are getting information at such a fast pace from so many different sources,” says Karl. “We have to be ready not only to help them learn how to learn but also to give them more to keep them interested.”
Technology also plays an increasingly important role at The Wilson School, in Clayton. Fourth-graders use iPads to create presentations about St. Louis landmarks, marking the sites on a map and scanning pictures. Students also connect with professors and scientists in phone calls accompanied by PowerPoint presentations or by way of Skype.
At Rossman School, Skype allows students and teachers from around the globe—Ireland, England, Japan—to virtually visit the Creve Coeur school’s classrooms. It’s giving them a connection to the world around them, says head of school Patricia Shipley:
“I think we should use every tool at our disposal to keep our children engaged, and technology is a tool. We use it when it’s going to improve or enhance a lesson.”
At the same time, educators are encouraging students to get out of the classroom for other types of hands-on activities. The Wilson School collaborates with the Saint Louis Zoo to enhance its inquiry-based science curriculum. Students have tracked a zoo study of turtles, for instance, and learned about their habitats in Forest Park. Head of school Thad Falkner says such activities allow students to “connect and collaborate outside our walls.”
Sarah Christman, co-founder and executive director of The Soulard School, agrees that education should expand beyond classrooms. “We aren’t asking kids to sit at desks and fill out worksheets,” she says. “We’re teaching them to be those active learners.”
At The Soulard School, students cook two meals per week as a part of the school’s culinary arts program. They’ve simmered pasta sauces, baked cornbread, and sliced fresh fruit. “It’s built a passion for our kids to eat healthy meals and is teaching them healthy choices early on,” says Christman, who adds that teachers are also able to incorporate math lessons into cooking, with students measuring ingredients. “It’s also a way to give kids another level of responsibility.”
Student engagement, especially for younger students, isn’t about attention spans, she adds. It’s about the quality of the learning experience. “It sets that excitement for discovery,” Christman says, “and helps them understand that learning is never-ending.”
