Experiential Learning
Our Centers for Learning create opportunities for meaningful teacher-student engagement.
Centers for Learning
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Decades of academic research highlight the importance of both meaningful teacher-student engagement and highly experiential learning in the intellectual growth of young people. Accordingly, Morristown-Beard School has thoughtfully created three Centers for Learning to best engender the high-level development of several essential skills in your child.
The Center for Innovation & Design
When complete, The Center for Innovation & Design (CID) will provide more than 8,000 square feet of flexible and innovative space where students will design, build, and problem solve as they engage in multidisciplinary projects.
Dr. Owen Boynton, Director of The Center for Innovation & Design, explores the approach to learning and problem-solving that inspired the Center in the first place: Design Thinking.
See just how the CID space will be utilized to give new range and depth to work across disciplines at MBS, while also encouraging students to pursue passion projects of their own.
The Center for Academic Writing
The Center for Academic Writing helps your child embrace the writing process as well as write across the curriculum.
Middle School
As educators, we believe that writing with fluency and clarity is an essential life skill; as such, the Middle School at Morristown-Beard School is dedicated to both the science and art of crafting, interpreting, and enjoying the written word. To support the crucial work in this area of study, the Center for Academic Writing helps your child learn to appreciate writing as a tool for inquiry while experimenting to find their respective voices on the page.
From large-scale research projects to creative and narrative writing, our teachers ask MBS students to write “across the curriculum” through a diverse set of assignments. Though English and history classes anchor the instruction of writing, our teachers in math and science also incorporate writing into their coursework and assessments, helping your child to recognize its relevance.
Upper School
We, as educators, firmly believe that writing is a true life skill. Morristown-Beard School is dedicated to both the science and art entailed in crafting, interpreting, and enjoying the written word. To support the development of this vital skill—a tool for communication, cooperation, and clarity of thought—the Center for Academic Writing helps your daughter or son embrace the writing process, learning to appreciate writing as a tool for inquiry while experimenting to find her or his voice on the page.
The Center for Teaching & Learning
The Center for Teaching & Learning guides students on learning processes from start to finish at MBS.
Middle School
Throughout the Middle School experience, MBS students receive support and instruction from the Center for Teaching & Learning. Often, as children enter Middle School, they can feel daunted by more challenging schoolwork, higher-stakes extracurricular commitments, and new social environments. The Center for Teaching & Learning provides our students with access to a dedicated workspace and highly skilled, experienced faculty members. Guided by the recognition that learning differences influence and enrich the educational experience, the Center for Teaching & Learning serves as an invaluable resource for all Middle School students at MBS.
Upper School
MBS students receive support and instruction from the Center for Teaching & Learning. Often, as students enter Upper School, they can face more challenging schoolwork, myriad extracurricular commitments, and new social environments.
Providing our students with a dedicated work space and highly-skilled and experienced faculty members, the Center for Teaching & Learning helps students to develop and refine the important skills that they need to successfully direct their learning trajectories, including time management and the cultivation of study strategies for reading, math, projects, and problem solving. Guided by the recognition that learning differences influence the educational experience, the Center for Teaching & Learning serves as an invaluable resource for students at MBS.
FAQ
- How do students access the Center for Teaching and Learning?
- My child has Dyslexia and/or ADHD. How can the CTL help?
- How does a student qualify for accommodations at MBS?
- What academic accommodations are offered by Morristown-Beard?
- How often will I need to update my student’s testing for both College Board and/or ACT in addition to assuring receiving accommodations at MBS?
How do students access the Center for Teaching and Learning?
The CTL faculty works to match level of need with level of support.
There are two ways for Upper School students to access the CTL:
- “Drop-In” status – Any Upper School student may choose to access the LC throughout the school day (8am-4pm) on a one-time or regular basis.
- Scheduled Sessions – Students have an Academic Strategies Class scheduled and meet three times a week. The CTL faculty make this determination based on a variety of factors. Middle School students may access the CTL by scheduled class times.
My child has Dyslexia and/or ADHD. How can the CTL help?
The CTL faculty has advanced degrees in areas of child development, learning and/or psychology. We utilize our training and broad understanding of learning styles and abilities to review psycho-educational testing, manage accommodations, introduce assistive technologies, and teach academic strategies and organizational skills. We address individual challenges while equipping all students with tools for academic and personal success.
How does a student qualify for accommodations at MBS?
Accommodations are granted to students only with completed and updated (within the last 3 years) psycho-educational testing and a thorough review by Learning Center faculty. MBS follows the guidelines of College Board Requirements for Accommodations.
What academic accommodations are offered by Morristown-Beard?
How often will I need to update my student’s testing for both College Board and/or ACT in addition to assuring receiving accommodations at MBS?
Testing needs to be updated every three years while in attendance at MBS. If you wish to apply for accommodations for standardized testing, please contact the Center for Teaching and Learning. Letters are sent out to inform all parents/students currently receiving accommodations on procedures to apply for College Board/ACT.