Homefronts of the Lower School classrooms.
The Evolution of Teaching in our Learning Villages by Dr. Amy Alsip As a newcomer to the All Saints community, it has been so rewarding to be welcomed into the fold with such warmth and sincerity. Part of what makes All Saints such a remarkable place is the sense of family that resonates from every part of the campus. I have the privilege to work in the most recently renovated building on campus, the King Early Learning and Lower School, and it has been such a pleasure to see the sense of home, family, and community being lived out in “real time” each day. Research shows that children who feel safe, loved, included and welcomed will be more successful in their learning experiences. Here at All Saints, our goal is to make each and every student feel those very emotions so we can help them to become learners of the future and the best versions of themselves. 6 | TORCH
To capitalize on this, much thought was put into each and every design element of the new King Early Learning and Lower School building. Creating the look of the home front and neighborhood was a purposeful choice to connect students to a feeling of home and create a sense of belonging. Each teacher in our building embraces her teaching practices in her own unique way, but one thing that ties us all together is our sense of community which is echoed throughout the hallways. In Mrs. Lemons’ 4th grade classroom, the concept of “home” has changed not only the way in which students learn, but also the way the teacher approaches her day to day experiences in the classroom. She says, “I no longer feel like I am simply coming to work, rather I feel as if I am coming home to a place I genuinely enjoy practicing my craft.”
In each classroom in the King Early Learning and Lower School building, the “tree” is the centerpiece of the learning space. The design for the tree was created to provide a gathering place for the students and is used in Mrs. Twomey’s 4th grade class as a place that brings students together as a family. Often that space can be seen as a reading station or a class meeting place where students feel comfortable and welcomed. Mrs. Twomey believes that if “educators can provide a space for students to feel comfortable and safe, that is where the most beneficial learning and teaching takes place. By choosing to model our learning environment after a home, we are creating a sense of safety and comfort for our students.” Even our youngest learners understand the importance of school family and the responsibilities that come
