Wildwood School - Philosophy

Philosophy

At the elementary school, Wildwood incorporates multi-age primary classes. For kindergarten and first grade, students learn together in "Pods". There are four pods, and each pod contains children mixed together in small class size. The reasoning behind this is that the older children can influence and lead the younger children, starting at a very young age. The elementary school encourages parent participation and every week during "all school meetings", parents are invited to be updated on school news and events.

At the middle and upper school, students receive a narrative assessment rather than a letter grade or report card. Narrative assessments are comprehensive reports written by the teacher specific to each of "The Seven Habits of Heart and Mind". These assessments are converted into a cumulative GPA is calculated in grades 9 through 12 to help facilitate the college process. Teachers assess the students on their academic work and a set of principles known as The Seven Habits of Heart and Mind. "The Seven Habits of Heart and Mind" are derived from a national organization known as the Coalition of Essential Schools and focus on the student as a person. Rather than daily assignments, lectures, or what the school perceives to be "busy work,", the students at Wildwood School receive long term projects. This creates an environment of self-directed learning with teacher guidance available when necessary. The middle and upper school encourages a system known as "Advisory" in which specific age groups are mixed and kept in the same advisory group and teacher for two years. Advisory is group of 12-14 students with one Advisory teacher. In Advisory, the students learn to bond with each other, participate in seminars and discussions, and have a safe place to vent or discuss. The advisor is responsible for the students in his or her advisory and frequently checks in with them on their progress academically and socially. The different age groups mixed in advisories are 7th and 8th, 9th and 10th, and 11th and 12th. These groups are called Divisions, with Division Two representing 7th and 8th grade, Division Three with 9th and 10th grade, and juniors and seniors in the Senior Institute. Class sizes remain small and students are encouraged to learn independently, to collaborate with other human beings, and to always seek evidence when presenting arguments.

Wildwood encourages a collaborative learning environment. It offers honors courses but does not have an Advanced Placement program, nor will it recognize AP credit from other institutions. Rather, Wildwood students demonstrate their cumulative learning through 50-minute presentations known as gateways at the end of 8th and 10th grade. They present a cumulative senior exhibition at the end of 12th grade. In all middle and upper school grades, parent teacher conferences are held twice a year with the student's advisor. The conferences seek to address the student's academic and social needs, and constitutes planning and goals for the future.