In our classrooms at LEADPrep it’s important for all students to feel like they are part of a community, and that they have choices about how they learn. Being part of a community and part of a collaboration makes learning more meaningful is at the heart of a concept called benefit mindset. Having a benefit… Read More »
Category: Adolescence
This Is How It Always Is
Every now and then we experience something that resonates so deeply that we have to share it. This Is How It Always Is, a wonderful book by Seattle author, Laurie Frankel, is just such a moving experience. At LEADPrep, we strive to see and value each unique student. We forge a community where labels do not… Read More »
What is a Micro-School?
LEADPrep is a progressive “micro-school.” What exactly is a “micro-school” and what does that mean for our students? Arianna Prothero, a staff writer for Education Week has thought about that question a lot. It’s a relatively new phenomenon, but there seems to be a consensus forming around a few core traits: Micro-schools have no more… Read More »
LEADPrep Prevents Car Crashes
Did you know that LEADPrep prevents car crashes? Hard to believe? Believe it! A three-year study covering 9,000 students from eight public high schools in three states determined that high schools that start at 8:30 or later allowed 60% of the student body to get at least eight hours of sleep a night. At… Read More »
Away for the Day
The image of people staring into the screen of a mobile device has become ubiquitous for our times. But how do mobile phones affect our children? You won’t be surprised to hear that researchers have started to delve into that question. And it probably won’t surprise you that a movement, Away for the Day, has resulted… Read More »
The Calm Cave
Everyone needs a space to be calm, to relax, to just breathe. At LEADPrep our students identified a need for a space to practice being calm. They put their heads together and identified a space that would work. “Calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.” Dalai Lama Then a… Read More »
How LEADPrep Has Impacted Victor
Eleventh grade student Victor Bahna is our first guest blogger. He has shared how LEADPrep has impacted his life in the last 3 ½ years. Victor is very enthusiastic about the Victorian era, and he likes to go to antique stores to find new treasures. He also loves music, and is presently learning a Scott… Read More »
Wisdom from A Wrinkle in Time
Books, imagination, creativity…yes! We want all three in our children’s lives! Madeleine L’Engle, the 1963 Newbery Award winning author of A Wrinkle in Time addresses the importance of all three in her 1963 Newbery acceptance speech. She urges those who write for or work with children to honor Mr. Melcher’s (founder of Newbery award) vision:… Read More »
Late School Starts Really Work
When you set your clocks back or forward think about this. Thomas Dekker wasn’t thinking about late school starts when he wrote about sleep in the 1500’s. “Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” But he should have been! The Beatles used his words in one of their songs, but it… Read More »
Improv for Improvement
Communication skills are very important in today’s society. LEADPrep students have a great opportunity for practicing good communication in their Toastmasters group. And the favorite part of working on the public speaking? Why, improv of course!! Improvisation Improvisation is one of our oldest arts. It predates writing and language, as ancient man had to tell… Read More »