Curriculum and the "teams"

 

   All the grade levels are taught the same subject at the same time, so if one student excelled in math, but needed review in literature, that student could switch to the classroom that worked at their academic performance. Teaching students at the level they are performing, as compared to leaving students in classrooms they trail behind in or excel overly, eases the learning environment from being too easy or too difficult for a student. Testing in literacy, writing and math is constantly taken in order for students to be moved around and challenged at the right level without wasting their time.

   “A test isn’t going to be the only thing that teachers look at,” Scholar Team teacher Rachel Mazzocco said. “Some students know material well, but may need more time, so we place them at a lower-leveled class that would be more beneficial for them.”
 

   Students at Cedar Ridge are not divided into grades, but rather teams. According to teachers, it isn’t the grade that identifies you, but rather the “old friend” and “new friend” concept. Old friends who have been in the class for a while welcome the new friends who come in. “The students’ confidence has gone up and they look forward to going into the classroom,” said Christie Johnson, Cedar Ridge’s special education teacher. “They are in an environment where their strengths are recognized and their weaknesses aren’t being judged.”

Initially hesitant, now looking toward the future



     At first, Kangaroo Team teacher Sherry Erickson was hesitant to switch from a traditional classroom setting. “I didn’t feel that it was okay for five-year-olds to be transitioning out of my classroom like junior high,” she said. However, seeing how well her students have grown accustomed to the new environment changed her mind. “I would like it for my kids.”

    Missouri Assessment Program testing has indicated that this new program is helpful in all subject areas. Communication arts for third, fourth, and fifth grade have all increased according to the MAP index scores. Scores in math for third and fourth grade increased, but stayed the same in fifth. Chandler said that she is anxious to see what their MAP testing looks like for this year.
 

    There are currently nine staff members at Cedar Ridge, but Chandler’s next challenge is to eventually move to a new school and double their staff size to about 25 members. According to Chandler, a large number of children have been coming in for interviews and she began to compare Cedar Ridge’s program to private schools in the area. “We have succeeded in a small school, but now we want to expand and find a way to make it bigger.”