Frequently Asked Questions
EBENEZER FAQ's:
- We have a curriculum committee made of teachers, board members, and the administrator who spend hours researching the best curriculum that best suites our Christian inspired education, and coincides with the Common Core guidelines. This committee meets several times a year.
- We charge a book fee which has helped us tremendously with our budget and has allowed for new curriculum and material.
- We use the DRA test three times a year to see where our student’s reading/comprehension levels are so that we can make sure they have the right reading levels in their Daily 5. This also allows advanced readers to continue without getting complacent and the readers who need more help have the ability to move at a pace that is comfortable for them.
- Because of the blended classrooms, students learn to become independent workers, and problems solvers which challenge them academically and socially.
- Our students have historically graduated in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and many of our students have been Salutatorian or Valedictorian of their class.
- Our staff attends at least 4 Professional Development days through Char-Em per year so that they learn new teaching techniques and ideas to bring into the classroom. This also helps the teachers to become inspired, continue to bring fresh ideas to their students, and to not become complacent.
- Our students participate in band with the Ellsworth Junior High Students as well as participate in the Strings Program through the Crooked Tree Art Center
BENEFITS OF A MULTI-AGE CLASSROOM:
- Our teachers teach in a multi-age classroom in which all students are part of the instruction and have an opportunity to be involved in advanced learning because of this.
- The teacher has a continued report with the student and the teacher which eliminates the “getting to know your student” phase at the beginning of the year. Usually at the beginning of the year in a one grade class, it takes 4-6 weeks to get to know the student and their learning style.
- Helps to optimize the potential of education.
- The student also benefits from having the same teacher for several years which allows the teacher to identify the student’s strengths and weaknesses which gives the students a better support for learning. This also gives teachers more time at the beginning of the year to teach because they already know their student.
- The children are also viewed as unique individuals because the teacher can build on their own learning style, as well as their level of learning.
- The students have an opportunity to learn at their own pace.
- It may be more obvious to a student in a same grade classroom if they are ahead or behind. Some students may identify if they are behind in a same grade classroom, causing them to loose self confidence in their work or become complacent. A multi-age classroom helps to build the confidence of the student.
- There is also an opportunity for the older students to develop leadership rolls within the classroom.
- Students also learn to work independently.