Blog
Afternoon Program Spotlight: Girls on the Run
“Providing students with enriching experiences, both in and out of the classroom, is an integral part of our mission here at Springfield Prep. This fall, our 3rd through 5th graders had the opportunity to participate in the Girls on the Run afternoon program, hosted in partnership with the national organization. Through a research-based, 10 week curriculum, students met in small groups, engaged in interactive lessons to grow their physical, social, and emotional skills, and trained to run in a friendly, non-competitive, 5k at the end of the season. Some of the lesson topics included discussing the importance of self-care, selecting and maintaining healthy relationships, and celebrating one’s strengths (just to name a few). By pairing physical activity with conversations around social, emotional wellness, the students worked to build confidence within themselves in a variety of ways. “
The Power of a Team
“We know teachers will bring different experience levels and strengths to their work and so we leverage the power of teams to achieve this. Our team leaders play a critical role when it comes to ensuring great ideas are shared and implemented and that teachers and staff feel a sense of belonging with their closest colleagues. In this post, we’ll interview Ashley Shaw, a founding teacher at Springfield Prep and our 2nd Grade Grade Level Chair. We’ll learn about Ashley’s development as a leader and how she sees her role as a driver of equity for kids. We’ll also learn what she does to make sure her team time is an uplifting source of connection - every Friday, when her Grade Team meets, you can hear the laughter from down the hall!”
"We are all Math People"- Collaboration and Preparation in our Middle School Math Classrooms
“In education, we often take for granted that getting all students to love reading is a worthy goal. Somehow, this same principle doesn’t always transfer to math. Not true at Springfield Prep. Helping students embrace their identity as math people is at the heart of Ms. Graul and Ms. Sela’s practice alongside deep knowledge of mathematical standards, thorough intellectual preparation for every lesson, and consistent effort to connect content to real life examples and transferable mathematical practices.”
“A Clear Path For Growth”: A View Into The Associate Teacher Program
“Arianna Romero joined Springfield Prep for the 2019-2020 school year as an Associate Teacher (AT). The AT program allows those who are new to teaching to get extra support and coaching, practice their teaching moves, and test out a few teaching roles before becoming a lead teacher the following year. As she puts it, ‘The AT role is a great foundational position that takes the stress away from the first year.’”
Brittanie McGregor is Springfield Prep’s 2019 Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award Winner
“The Excellence in Teaching Awards program, made possible by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation in partnership with MassMutual and the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, is an honor given out annually to recognize outstanding Western Massachusetts educators.”