Academic Focus
At PS 376, we engage all students in learning experiences that enable them to acquire complex knowledge and subject-specific skills and vocabulary. This means we focus on implementing standards aligned units and lessons with clear objectives, challenging tasks, and appropriate pacing, sequencing, resources, and supports for English learners and students with disabilities so that all learners can succeed.
Project Based Learning
In Project Based Learning, students learn the curriculum by exploring a meaningful question, solving an engaging real-world problem, or taking on a challenge to design or create something. Before they can accomplish this, students need to inquire into the topic by asking questions and developing their own answers. To demonstrate what they learn, students create high-quality products and present their work to other people. Students often do project work collaboratively in small teams, guided by the teacher.
Although it is easier to define what PBL is not (e.g., worksheets disconnected from larger intellectual inquiry), it is more difficult to define what it is… and in one sentence. Here is an attempt:
Project Based Learning is a systematic teaching method that engages students in learning important knowledge and 21st century skills through an extended, student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and learning tasks.
Technology Integration
At PS 376 we leverag technology to help make student thinking and learning visible.