Our teachers know how to impart information to their students… how to teach them to think and solve problems… and how to engender in them both enthusiasm and respect for learning.
We also know that it’s equally important that our teachers—like parents—are models for children in every circumstance. The following are some of our social modeling philosophies.
- At Concord Hill, every child learns from an early age to greet others with a “good morning” or “hello” and to look others in the eye when speaking to them. This conduct is modeled by the teachers and staff who greet children with a hearty “good morning” when they arrive in class or with “have a good afternoon” when they leave school for the day.
- Children who see their teachers treating them or their classmates with understanding and respect when they make mistakes are more likely to be tolerant of the mistakes of others, and to be more willing to take risks themselves.
- Children also learn that it is acceptable to make mistakes when they see their teachers make mistakes without losing their equanimity.
- When children watch teachers cooperate with each other in running the classroom, they learn valuable lessons about the benefits of teamwork.
- When teachers help children settle conflicts that arise on the playground or in the classroom, children pick up strategies for conflict resolution that they themselves can later apply.
- Our students learn from teachers that their ideas are respected and valued when the teachers encourage them to make choices for themselves.
- Enthusiasm is contagious: teachers who exhibit enthusiasm for the subject matter of their lessons are more likely to have enthusiastic students.
The “Concord Hill Traditions” practiced in our school community also serve as an integral part of our social curriculum. To learn more about these wonderful traditions, please go to the Concord Hill Traditions description in the School Life section of our website.