From Pituitaries to Politics: My Mod 2 Classroom Experiences

I spent a good part of Mod 2 visiting the classes of some teachers new to CSW this year: Frantz; Caleb; Doralis; Michael and Nicole. As you might imagine, spending time with my colleagues and our students is always one of the most rewarding aspects of my role as head of school. It’s a bonus if I can see some students multiple times in the same day, allowing me to gain a sense of their full class day experience.
I spent a good part of Mod 2 visiting the classes of some teachers new to CSW this year: Frantz; Caleb; Doralis; Michael and Nicole. As you might imagine, spending time with my colleagues and our students is always one of the most rewarding aspects of my role as head of school. It’s a bonus if I can see some students multiple times in the same day, allowing me to gain a sense of their full class day experience.

As a casual observer, I am particularly interested in watching the relational aspect of learning and teaching in these classes. In our relatively informal setting, how are students engaging? What is their role in constructing the class? How are teachers helping students access many different modes of learning?

Here is a snapshot of my Mod 2 class visits:
  • During biology class, I took part in an exercise about the important role various glands play in our bodies. Writing a letter to the glands thanking them for the important things that they do to keep us healthy was an unusual but effective way of helping me understand these concepts more deeply.
  • In a jewelry class, students met in pairs to describe their hopes and plans for their final pieces. I watched how the constructive critique of their fellow students spurred the makers on to new ideas and developments. Can’t wait to see the results tomorrow at the End of Mod 2 Show!
  • Math students wrote out an instruction manual with a step-by-step guide for other students as a way to understand various concepts and procedures.
  • In both French and Spanish classes, conversations in the target languages were deep and wide-ranging. I especially liked that introductory music in the language being studied welcomed the students into the room before class began.
Finally, Mod 2 also brought our first discussion assembly of the year on the topic of politics; specifically, how to speak respectfully with others and how to hear the opinions of others. The Robin Wood Theatre was the “classroom” backdrop for a level of discourse that was both thoughtful and impressive. Practicing the art and science of deep conversation and actively participating in their own education and growth are truly two hallmarks of CSW students. How fortunate I feel to have witnessed these defining traits in action in all our learning spaces so many times during my visits this Mod.

Congratulations to A-Board and our Town Meeting Moderator for leading us forward into a realm of conversation that many people find impossible. And congratulations to our students for modeling and naming the need for intentional, engaged civic dialogue.

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Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.

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CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.