“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” - Fred Rogers

At Gardner, we strive to foster each student’s natural curiosity and wonder as they work to understand their role in the world around them. We provide the freedom, space, choice, and time for students to learn and explore through play and inquiry.

Research has shown the benefits of play-based learning across various areas of development, including:

- Language & Vocabulary Development

- Imagination & Creativity

- Problem Solving & Mathematics

- Gross & Fine Motor Development

- Social & Emotional Skills

The Gardner School of Arts & Sciences follows the approach of progressive education. "Progressive" in this context is related to the 19th Century movement to "progress" from outdated educational approaches towards a different model. Schools prior to that time focused on teacher-directed learning and rote memorization of facts. Progressive education advocates like John Dewey felt there was a better way to engage children in learning.

Some tenets of progressive education:

• learning is hands-on

• learning is authentic and relevant to the child’s own experience

• learning engages children by extending educational opportunities outside the classroom

• learning is social and interactive

• learning focuses on problem solving and critical thinking

• learning places the teacher in the role of guide and facilitator, not lecturer

• learning allows students some say in what they want to learn and how to go about learning it

These values are observable at Gardner every day. Students make predictions, create connections, and participate in their learning in a way that develops their independence and curiosity. With this strong foundation, students from progressive schools are well equipped for their next academic adventures.

Following Dr. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, we believe that every child can find joy in learning, and it is our responsibility to teach the uniqueness of each child. During the 1999-2000 school year, Dr. Gardner visited the school. He spoke highly of the learning that he observed and expressed the opinion that the school reflected his theories well.

Some people think that “Multiple Intelligences” means everyone has a “different” strength. Actually, it means everyone has multiple ways of learning and multiple unique ways of being “smart.” These strengths may change over time and may fit better in different circumstances. At Gardner, we provide opportunities for learning through a variety of modalities to reach children in different ways, and to increase their “smarts” in all areas of intelligence.

Throughout the year and throughout the curriculum, multiple intelligences will be incorporated into the lessons and projects that the classes complete. The goal is to empower our students to grow as independent learners, and to embrace these key points:

• Humans possess all of the intelligences in some form.

• Individuals can grow in all intelligences. Preferences and abilities in each intelligence can change over time. It’s up to the individual to make that change happen.

• All of the intelligences can be used to express what is learned.

• The multiple intelligences are meant to empower rather than limit or label people.

Gardner students base their learning in a series of thematic studies throughout the year. Thematic studies are integrated in all subject areas to enhance learning and create strong understanding. This means the learning happening in the homeroom classroom is reinforced and reimagined in the Art, Music, Science, and Spanish classrooms, and deepened with field trips and guest speakers. Students develop skills of observing, questioning, experimenting, and investigating while focusing on relationships between environments and cultures. At the end of a thematic unit, students collaborate to share their learning with families through performances and visual displays for an authentic audience.

This approach includes student choice, connecting with the multiple intelligences by allowing students to demonstrate their understanding and growth through a variety of modalities and means, rather than relying solely on the results of traditional tests and written essays. Students collaborate with one another and their teachers to learn, practice valuable interpersonal skills, and deepen their understanding.

Experiential learning means our students get to “learn by doing.” When students can connect classroom topics with real-world applications and experiences, it both deepens understanding and fosters curiosity about related subjects. Our students experience authentic learning by connecting with local organizations, welcoming expert guest speakers, and engaging in hands-on approaches to instruction. These real-world connections make a difference for Gardner students; the opportunity to collaborate with each other and experts to build confidence and inspire curiosity is one of the gifts of a Gardner School education.