Direct instruction for SEL at Chenery might look like an 8th grade ELA teacher leading kids to understand institutional racism in To Kill a Mockingbird or a 7th grade science teacher coaching students on how to make their science group work effectively. A 5th grade teacher might have a peace-table where students and student-coaches work out differences. 6th grade art teachers lead students in a yearly “Just Because I Am…” project that gets students to write about and create a photo about different stereotypes.
School Wide Practices and Routines
Wednesday morning extended homeroom is a built-in time for teachers to host discussions with students (across all the grades) about school-wide activities, events and issues. For instance, in February of this year during extended homeroom, students in all grades learned how to identify and give a real apology.
Climate and Culture
- Monthly Team Day. Grade 6 hosts a Monthly Team Day. Students have fun with team building exercises and games, set short and long term goals and engage in lessons about growth mindset and persistence.
- School Yearly Musical. The upper school yearly musical brings together over 100 students and builds a sense of community.
- Mock Trial and Washington DC Trip. The Grade 8 Mock Trial and Washington DC trip are community-building highlights that give all Chenery students something to look forward to.
Grade 5 keeps teams smaller (about 50 students) than the other grades to help ease kids into the middle school model. Teams practice regular team-building routines such as