The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides an intimate, personalized environment tailored to each student’s needs. We group students in multi-age classrooms and limit class sizes to twenty, allowing teachers to build stronger relationships with individual students and differentiate instruction accordingly. We use paper-and-pencil tests less frequently than traditional schools, instead rel
ying on alternative forms of assessment such as projects and portfolios that paint a more complete picture of each student’s abilities and needs. We encourage community and parent involvement to develop children’s understandings of the connections between classroom and real-world experiences and invite parents to be partners in the education of their children. We establish an environment that encourages independent thought, expression, and creativity. Students are given ample time to grapple, conjecture, follow their passions, ask questions, and find answers with the guidance of dedicated, highly-qualified teachers. We believe that all children thrive in an environment that acts as a catalyst for their natural curiosity and encourages them to develop, share, and feel proud of their individual abilities. CTL is a school of inquiry that encourages and nurtures children’s innate curiosities. The instructional approaches will attend to the varied learning styles of modern children. We will provide opportunities necessary for learners to be challenged in meaningful ways, to be truly engaged in critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity through project-based learning. The definition of an “expert” teacher can be complex and multilayered (Berliner, 2001). We believe that expert teachers are also committed learners. Our expert teachers will:
• hold college degrees and certifications specific to their teaching assignments;
• engage in ongoing professional development to hone their craft;
• read professional journal articles and books; and
• share their teaching experiences through publishing journal articles and books, presenting at conferences, and mentoring teachers who intern at CTL. Our dedicated faculty builds a relevant curriculum based on the diverse needs and interests of each student rather than deliver a pre-packaged program. Because of our small-school atmosphere, CTL faculty is better able to align the curriculum on a continuum through the grades. Furthermore, because of our small-class size, teachers are better able to differentiate for each student.
