Personalized learning practices allow students to take ownership over their own learning, to set and achieve ambitious goals, to serve in an active role as learner, and to have choice and input into their learning. At CHES, we are merging the Reggio approach found in our Early Childhood schools with personalized learning practices. This includes adaptive planning, co-planning with students, choice menus, blended learning options, engaging in goal-setting and conferencing with teachers and family members, project-based options and learning based on qualitative and quantitative data.

In grades K-1st, Reggio-inspired instructional practices are used to create holistic learning environments. Emergent learning is made possible through adaptive unit planning. Students have choice boards in K-1st to support differentiated learning needs, styles and paces. The arts, including puppetry, drama, and dance are incorporated into academic subjects.

In grades 2-8th, students surveys, goal-setting and conferring are continuously increasing in frequency. The upper grades also engage in increased interest-based projects that cross grades and subject-levels. This occurs through the use of creative scheduling that allows for more flexibility in teacher and student schedules. Teachers engage in increased vertical planning to align Standards and benchmarks, ensuring cohesive programming that works in tandem with the personalized learning structures.

We also incorporate STEAM units, which is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.