We learn by doing

Whether it’s writing a book review to inspire their classmates or using math to track the school’s compost and come up with solutions to reduce waste, Willow students learn by creating authentic experiences that are relevant to their lives.

Our teachers take every opportunity to apply abstract concepts to concrete materials and experiences, from taking middle school math class outside to measuring shadows to better understand relationships between objects to collecting and analyzing snow as it melts to understand density in science and more!

Every year, our lessons look a bit different, with our student questions at the heart of every lesson. For example, when a kindergarten class became fascinated by a snake on a nature walk, lessons that day turned to answering student questions. At Willow, students learn to follow their curiosity and apply what they are learning to questions they care about.

A teaching method used since Willow’s founding, students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge.

Willow teachers incorporate imaginative inquiry, a technique that encourages students to use their imagination to role play and solve real-world problems.

.

Willow students become curious about their surroundings on our 34-acre campus. We use our streams to learn about the local watershed, our woods and native plant growth for the study of phenology, and our LEED certified buildings for math exercises like the graphing and prediction of energy consumption. Our attention to place-based education immerses students in the unique history, environment, culture, and art of our area and region, rooting lessons in meaningful experiences relevant to our lives.

.

Service learning combines grade-level learning objects with community service to demonstrate to students that they can make a difference through their actions.

.