Crafting Learning: A Curriculum Design Podcast

Joined by Learning Resources teachers Cindy Thom, Lacey Ramsey, and Shannon Faella. We are adopting a new phonics program (UFLI) from Kindergarten through 2nd grade. As a result, materials needed to be set up, scope and sequences created to bridge the gap from FUNdations, and instructional decisions needed to be made. Additionally, 4th grade is adopting a new morphology program (IMSE) and logistic...

Liz Unger and Kristin Keneally return to the podcast to share their design work to create more opportunities to teach and learn in our outdoor spaces for our youngest learners. Their intentions for outdoor learning include building a strong sense of connection to our natural environment, additional sensory experiences, gross motor skill development, creative and curious exploration, growth in soci...

A conversation with World Language teachers Catherine Mendoza, Sean Robb, Abby Cali, and Loren Chavez who are all currently teaching Spanish from Beginners through Grade 9 at NCCS. The entire WL team had attended a conference recently and we got to learn about those experiences as well as other elements that are experienced by students throughout our program.

Two of our Upper School World Languages teachers collaborated over the summer to make sure the Latin 2 program at NCCS allows a student to move to any Latin 3 program and be successful in any Latin 3 classroom. This can be challenging considering Latin programs can really vary school to school. Since students are now getting farther in Latin curriculum, we can cover more topics with students that...

In this episode we hear from NCCS' Physical Education and Athletics team as they share recent curricular design work in two areas: beginners (preschool) motor and coaching. Our guests are: Kendall Cornine, Cherie Corchard, Jay Thornhill, Keri Kern, Byron Reding, and Steve Willson. On the Beginners Motor curriculum design work: This curriculum promotes physical, motor, and emotional development for...

Madeleine Ker, Claire DeLaurentis, and Daley Avery shared about their summer work. The focus of their work was to review the Beginners Social and Emotional Learning curriculum by looking closely at the history of what they have included. They took a closer look at “The Color Monster” unit and differentiated lessons to provide students with a more scaffolded experience.

Beginners 3/4 Teachers Liz Unger and Kristin Keneally share about their work documenting early childhood curriculum

In this special episode you will hear from a panel of our school's division leaders and the head of school who shared perspectives on job search processes. This panel happened live for our Apprentice Teacher Training Program cohort and is being made available on the podcast. Thanks for tuning in and please enjoy!

In this episode (recorded on Leap Day - February 29, 2024) we learn from Kelly Siegrist and Cindy Thom about the Social Emotional resources they developed for K-4 teachers. They created a guidebook for teachers around SEL/Responsive Classroom strategies and practices with targeted goals based on recent classroom observations. Supplemental materials were provided around specific tools to increase c...

Lindy Bourque and Jennifer Thiemann join us to share about their curriculum design work for Music and Movement in the lower grades (Beginners - 4th grade) at NCCS. Summary from the Guests In the 2021-2022 school year, we combined what had previously been a Lower school “Creative Dramatics” class and a Lower School “Music” class into one course called “Music and Movement”. In the 2023-2024 school y...

Upper School faculty members Elizabeth Carroll, Lauren Romeo, Marshall Johnson, and Lacey Ramsey share about their newly designed Capstone project for the oldest students in our school. Curriculum Description 9th Grade Capstone Project This curriculum design project was centered around brainstorming and developing a culminating, interdisciplinary experience for departing ninth-grade students. In r...

Learning Resource Teachers Hali Dorfman and Lacey Ramsey share about their design work focused on executive functioning curriculum. Curriculum Description Executive Functioning: Tools, Strategies and Methods This curriculum is designed to develop the self-awareness skills students need to appreciate their strengths, recognize when to ask for help, and to grow comfortable learning how to learn for...