The Nashoba Brooks academic program is a student-centered approach that is built upon the School’s core values: integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, empathy, and resilience. With an emphasis on the interpersonal relationships between students and their teachers, students are encouraged to take healthy academic risks and develop a greater understanding of the world and their ability to make a positive impact on it.
Hybrid Program
While we look forward to the day when all of us can be back to campus safely, we know that some students and families will have health vulnerabilities that require them to work remotely. The School will work closely with these individuals to make it possible for them to engage fully in our daily program. Our IS team is also available to give families technological support, as needed.
We have also added Swivl cameras to each of our classrooms to help remote learners follow the activity of the class more easily from home. Each student will receive their own laptop, Chromebook or iPad, and a personal learning kit with the necessary supplies for the subjects they are taking. These kits will make certain that students have everything they need, whether at School or at home, to complete assignments and fulfill teacher expectations.
Whether in person or remote, a Nashoba Brooks education inspires self-confidence, encourages self-advocacy and accentuates the individual strengths of our students.
On Campus Instruction
While on campus, students will learn in small cohort groups with a dedicated team of teachers assigned to each group. Additional small group and one-on-one support will be provided by our talented teachers and specialists. Through the use of technology in the classrooms, students will engage in simultaneous, direct, and differentiated instruction. Teachers and students will have the flexibility to teach and learn simultaneously from outside the classroom as needed to maintain flexibility and accommodate cohorting needs. In addition to the core academic subject areas of math, reading, social studies and writing, students receive instruction in Spanish, science, physical education, library, music, and art. In the Middle School, students also are instructed in Latin, drama and English.
Laptops, Chromebooks, and iPads are utilized by students to support productivity, access asynchronous assignments, and engagement with teachers on video. Each student will receive their own learning kits that contain necessary supplies for the subjects they are taking.
In addition to classroom instruction, students utilize the natural elements of campus to enhance their learning. Where possible, lessons may be delivered outdoors by homeroom and subject-specific teachers.
Learning From Home
The Nashoba Brooks School remote learning program, NashobaBrooks@Home, aims to build and maintain the connectivity between all members of the community: students, teachers, families, and staff. Our program provides an educational experience that fosters curiosity, supports academic growth, and promotes collaboration. Students communicate with their teachers and classmates through class meetings and instruction, as well as in small groups and individual coaching sessions. Students learn through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction.
Asynchronous instruction
Students engage with class assignments and instruction at their own pace, often completing assignments within a specific timeframe. Asynchronous assignments may be project-based, involve tech-free activities, require interaction with a discussion board (Flipgrid), and incorporate video recorded lessons (screencasts).
Synchronous instruction
Students engage in real time with peers and teachers, face to face, over a video-conferencing platform (Zoom or Google Meet). Synchronous learning allows for immediate feedback and communication. These sessions are essential for building and maintaining healthy relationships when not in-person.
We are prepared as a community to have some or all of our School participating in remote learning, as the public health climate dictates.