It’s summer! School’s out! Wait… kids have been home for months. This doesn’t feel like the buoyant shift that usually accompanies the last day of school. Sure, kids don’t have any more online assignments and they get to pull the covers over their heads instead of checking into early morning digital classrooms. But summer plans are on hold. Camps, team sports, and long-awaited trips are constant shape shifters and there are questions about what next September will hold as well.
Uncertainty can be stressful for everyone. Kids thrive when they know what’s expected of them and have the tools and confidence to meet those expectations. The schools that were most successful with distance learning these past few months were those that focused on the social and emotional growth of their students and that continued building essential skills for a foundational knowledge base. Today, as schools prepare for an uncertain landscape in the fall, they must continue to be responsive and proactive — planning for now and for change.
At Oak Meadow School, a Montessori program for 18 months through 8th grade, in Littleton MA, the transition to digital classrooms was surprisingly smooth. Because the school fosters independent, self-paced learning, teachers were able to immediately adapt their lessons to the kitchen table and back yard. No matter their entry point, Oak Meadow students quickly come to rely on their own curiosity and motivation to guide their progress, and teachers who understand each student’s developmental readiness ensure that everyone is always advancing to their own next level.
According to parents, what really distinguished Oak Meadow’s distance learning experience was this focus on individual needs. Because Oak Meadow teachers truly value each student’s learning style and individual interests, they continued to recognize and address the evolving needs of each student. Every student responded differently to the “new normal” and teachers differentiated their approaches accordingly. Online sessions included lots of one-on-one time (just like in the Oak Meadow classrooms) as well as meaningful group discussions that challenged students to listen deeply and share respectfully.
As Oak Meadow teachers plan for September and anticipate welcoming new students in all grades, they know they will deliver their program in a variety of ways. The spacious campus will allow students to learn together while also practicing safe social distancing. Online learning will still be an option for parents who are more comfortable keeping children home. “Whether kids are studying inside or outside the home, they will benefit from a robust educational experience,” says Head of School Jay Scheurle. “And regardless of where they are learning, we will be tuned-in to their social and emotional needs as well as their intellectual growth. We will take care of them — inside and out.”
Find out more at oakmeadow.org.
Since 1977, Oak Meadow School has been creating a diverse community of passionate learners with strong roots in the Montessori philosophy. At Oak Meadow, parents partner with their child’s teachers and develop strong connections with like-minded families. Oak Meadow School serves toddlers through grade 8 from over 30 communities..
2 Old Pickard Lane
Littleton, MA 01460
978-486-9874
