Teaching Practices

Hands-on projects and active teamwork to generate ideas and find solutions are the hallmarks of Bertschi instruction both in and out of the classroom. Learn more about our continually evolving teaching practices.

Our Pedagogy

Bertschi School believes that students learn best when they are:

  • 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, and
  • Given opportunities to collaborate and dialogue with a diverse group of learners.

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.

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 believe all students have areas of strength and areas that are not strengths yet.

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.


Inquiry-Based Learning

We encourage students to problem solve through inquiry, trial, and error and empower students to take risks and make change.

An Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Bertschi’s curriculum is interdisciplinary, specialist classes are often connected to classroom learning. Specialists collaborate with classroom teachers and make cross curricular connections that deepen learning and provide multiple perspectives.

Teaching at the "Just Right" Level

We are dedicated to meeting our students where they are; we teach each child at their just right level. 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.

Confidence and Positivity

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.

Compassion, Confidence, Creativity

Our mission calls us to prepare compassionate, confident, and creative citizens of the world. We honor and cherish each child, so offer them the best education for the future.

A Passion for Lifelong Learning

Our faculty don't just teach growth mindset, they live it. Our teachers are passionate about ongoing professional development, continuing education, and participate in a self-developed peer observation and growth system.

Building on Students' Strengths

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 believe all students have areas of strength and areas that are not strengths yet.

Developing Leadership

The age range of our school allows for students to grow as leaders and take on leadership roles as they move through the grades. Visitors to our school often comment about the spontaneous kindness and collaboration they see in our classrooms and on our playground between students in different grades.

Joyful Learning

The daily experience at Bertschi is a celebration of childhood. We believe learning should be joyful and that every child should feel safe and known in an inclusive community that values diverse perspectives.

Challenging Academics, Hands-on Learning

Bertschi School’s curriculum is known for combining challenging core academics with hands-on activities that engage students in interdisciplinary learning. We also place a special emphasis on social-emotional learning and environmental stewardship.