AROUND CAMPUS
A Medieval Feast
Third graders , fresh from their “ knighting ” as the leaders of the Lower School enjoyed a medieval feast with entertainment provided by eighth grade jesters .
Dr . Reichert Talk and Reflective Practice
Renowned boys ’ education researcher Dr . Michael Reichert ( author of several books , including Reaching Boys , Teaching Boys and How to Raise a Boy : The Power of Connection to Build Good Men ) presented at a school Admissions event in late May in our Otto- Bernstein Theatre . Saint David ’ s has been working with Dr . Reichert this past year as part of our faculty professional development in the relational learning area . His research has revealed three main themes : boys elicit the teaching that they require ( teacher adjusts teaching method based on feedback ); teaching boys has transitivity ( elements of instruction arouse and hold student interest - like lessons that are games , explosions in chemistry , Nerdy Derby ); and boys are relational learners . The establishment of a strong affective relationship with their teachers is a precondition to successful teaching and learning . In a related professional development initiative , beginning this summer , a collaborative Action Research group of faculty will engage in a course of study on reflective practice over 12 months . The course will be led by Ric Campbell , founder of a teacher-education program at Bard ’ s College . Reflective practitioners work collaboratively to define problems of practice , review literature , collect and analyze data , determine next steps , and synthesize their findings in presentations to colleagues . They look at a “ problem of practice ” ( for example a group of math teachers may want their students to be able to grapple more with problems in math class - take more ownership , more responsibility ) and reflect on what is happening and what can be accomplished to achieve a particular goal .
Summer 2023 • 53