Learning at Westhaven
Know the subject.
Work with the idea.
Clear instruction and meaningful practice give students something to draw on when the question becomes more complex.
Growing through Westhaven
A different kind of
day at every stage.
Strong foundations come first. Independence grows with practice.
Kindergarten–Grade 5
Build a foundation.
Put it to work.
Reading, writing and mathematics have a place every day. Science and community studies give children something real to investigate, make and explain.
- Read together, then talk about the story.
- Compare different ways to solve a number problem.
- Build a bridge and describe what happened in the test.
A glimpse of the day
- Morning meeting
- Reading & writing
- Science project
- Art, music or library
How lessons work
A balance of teaching and doing.
Teachers introduce a concept, model a method or read a passage with the class. Students then work with the idea through guided practice, discussion and independent tasks. The balance changes with the subject and age of the group.
Projects draw on this subject knowledge. They give students a reason to measure accurately, read carefully, write clearly or look again at evidence.
Feedback
Make the next step visible.
Feedback points to something a student can work on: an unsupported claim, a calculation to revisit, a clearer opening or a design detail to test. Students have opportunities to revise selected work rather than treating every first attempt as final.
Teachers share learning with families through scheduled conferences and the regular class communication. Families see the work as well as the next steps.