Teaching Practices
Bertschi teachers are designers of experiences. The opportunity to work in a classroom with peers who have a variety of ways of thinking, strengths, and challenges helps all students expand their learning.
Our teachers create lessons that asks students to think, collaborate, and listen. Learning is richer and deeper when students are building upon one another's ideas, making mistakes, and trying again. We encourage students to revise their own thinking, giving them practice in the skills they will need to be successful in the future.
Teaching Students At Their "Just Right Level"
We are dedicated to meeting our students where they are; we teach each child at their just right level. We believe all people learn best in a diverse environment, and diversity includes having a wide range of academic strengths, challenges, and ways of thinking.
The cornerstone to our just right level approach is flexible grouping within every grade level. In our classrooms we often create small groups based on the individual needs of the students. A third grader might work with a group one week to understand fractions and then work with a different group the following week on the real world applications of geometry. A kindergartener might work in one group to practice decoding multisyllabic words and later work in another group to practice forming lower case letters.
Teachers understand that while some students excel in a certain area, they may need more scaffolding in another. We carefully construct a classroom community where faster is not necessarily better, and we believe all students have areas of strength and areas that are not strengths...yet.
Academically Advanced Students
We have many students at Bertschi School who are academically advanced. Our teachers are skilled at designing experiences that push the students to expand their thinking and follow their passions and talents. In grades K through 5, classroom projects are designed with multiple entry points including very high ceilings. For example, a student who is particularly strong in math is able to push their skills and thinking to their just right level, while also benefiting from other students' perspectives and ways of thinking.
Our instructional coach also serves as our coordinator of advanced curriculum, working closely with teachers to ensure lessons and projects are meeting the needs of our advanced learners. Challenging students is the collective responsibility of all teachers, however, and we are committed to serving the needs of all our learners including those who are academically advanced or who qualify for gifted programs.
Bertschi got me so excited to learn, and when you're excited about something you’ll do everything you can to learn about it.Jack, Grade 3
We never put kids in boxes. Who you are today might not be who you are tomorrow. The just right level allows for growth and gives students permission to have areas that they are not good at...yet.
Over time, we guide students to develop a broadminded outlook that is supported by both skills and confidence. They are encouraged and encourage others. They feel positively about themselves and model good citizenship in a global community. They do their part as good stewards of our planet and inspire others to do their part. They each know that every individual can make a difference.
We Believe Students Learn Best When They Are...
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Safe and known in an inclusive community that values diverse perspectives
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Safe and known in an inclusive community that values diverse perspectives
Supported in developing social-emotional skills
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Safe and known in an inclusive community that values diverse perspectives
Supported in developing social-emotional skills
Provided academic choice and challenge at their “just right level”
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Safe and known in an inclusive community that values diverse perspectives
Supported in developing social-emotional skills
Provided academic choice and challenge at their “just right level”
Engaged in meaningful work
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Safe and known in an inclusive community that values diverse perspectives
Supported in developing social-emotional skills
Provided academic choice and challenge at their “just right level”
Engaged in meaningful work
Encouraged to problem solve through inquiry, trial, and error
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Safe and known in an inclusive community that values diverse perspectives
Supported in developing social-emotional skills
Provided academic choice and challenge at their “just right level”
Engaged in meaningful work
Encouraged to problem solve through inquiry, trial, and error
Empowered to take risks and make change
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Safe and known in an inclusive community that values diverse perspectives
Supported in developing social-emotional skills
Provided academic choice and challenge at their “just right level”
Engaged in meaningful work
Encouraged to problem solve through inquiry, trial, and error
Empowered to take risks and make change
Given opportunities to collaborate and dialogue with a diverse group of learners