Running River School Information

The math program at Running River School strives to help students create meaning of processes and operations through the use of manipulatives and real-world problem solving. Our method is heavily based in the constructivist approach, which suggests that children are at all times broadening their construct of the logical and symbolic world through the assimilation of new experiences, which conflict and align with previous knowledge and understanding: thus, creating new meaning. One strength of our program lies in the way math arises out of our project based learning. For example, when the Kindergarteners want to know how big dinosaurs were, we study measurement. They study length, height, and weight of dinosaur footprints, tails, and heads. They also compare and contrast with animals in their world, a pre-skill of ratio. By engaging kids emotional center, we quickly activate excitement in the brain as well. Another strength of our program is that we give kids every opportunity we can to use math as a tool in life. We teach in a way that gets all kids excited to apply their developing skills to real life practical projects such as carpentry, gardening, cooking, and orienteering in the outdoors. Research shows that although students may be able to perform well at arithmetic computation, often they are not able to use those skills to solve problems. Attached is an example of a Garden Problem. This problem demonstrates a standards-based approach to a real thematic problem: "How can you design the garden we are building?" A third strength of our program is our multi-age grouping. We intentionally create multi-age classrooms because peers are great teachers. When students present their findings and ideas, they are solidifying new information and teaching one another what they have learned. We are constantly challenging kids to teach one another. When kids struggle and reach out for help, we often direct them to other students. Our teachers evaluate students™ knowledge by observing the ways in which individuals and ...