Differentiation & 2E at Commonwealth Academy
Our small classrooms make truly differentiated learning a reality. Students are encouraged to engage with material that stretches their learning across the curriculum.
- The Differentiated Learning Specialist works directly with teachers to implement differentiation across content, process and product.
- Inside of the classroom, teachers differentiate their lessons for all learners, ensuring that students are supported while also providing students with opportunities to build on their gifts and strengths and challenge themselves.
- Across grade level, students are offered constant opportunities to pursue their interests, academic, and non-academic strengths through electives, committees, clubs and extracurricular activities.
2E TWICE EXCEPTIONAL
Our emphasis on differentiated instruction carries through to our “Twice Exceptional” students who have high abilities or potential in one or more areas AND have challenges in their learning profiles.
In Upper School:
AP and Honors classes are offered across the curriculum
Students can challenge themselves by earning a Diploma Certificate along with their Standard or Advanced Diploma.
Students may explore dual enrollment with local colleges and universities
The Differentiated Learning Specialist works directly with teachers to support lesson differentiation across content, process and product, paying particular attention to the needs of our 2e students.
In Middle School:
Students have the option to participate in a 2e Elective, where they can pursue a Passion Project.
Students who are gifted in math are able to participate in Upper School classes
Students in all grade levels are offered multiple opportunities weekly to pursue their interests, academic, and non-academic strengths through electives, clubs and extracurricular activities. In addition, the unique social-emotional needs of 2e students are supported through dedicated division-based Counselors and through social-emotional learning woven throughout the curriculum.
SEL
At Commonwealth Academy, we recognize that academic potential and student growth need a strong foundation in social-emotional learning and student well-being. Our division-based School Counselors provide support, coaching, and connection for all our students.
In Upper School
Upper School Students participate in Learning Lab activities designed to support their social-emotional growth and to learn problem-solving and teambuilding skills in preparation for college.
In Middle School
Students participate in Advisory lessons that emphasize perspective taking, community building, and strategies for building resilience. Middle School Students participate in project-based learning activities during their GRIT elective, which fosters teamwork, communication, self-regulation, and interpersonal skills.
In Middle & Upper School
During Discovery Summit days, students explore topics and activities to support their well-being, including online safety, mental health topics, and Mindfulness.
With GRIT, I have been able to make friends with students I didn’t know before. I also love the challenges and we should do more! I also love working in groups of 3 students. - Grade 7 Student
GRIT has definitely had a positive impact on student behavior and social skills this year. Through the year, students have become more adept at recognizing behaviors that they themselves or others exhibit that are contrary to what they have learned in GRIT class. They have discussed strategies for improving, they have become much better at demonstrating thanks and praising and complimenting classmates, and have learned a lot about themselves as people. They really enjoyed the building tasks and took a lot of pride in going through the design process to make their prosthetics functional. - Mr. Furman, MS Math Teacher
GRIT has been a huge help in improving my team building skills. The challenges are fun but also still a challenge. The truth is that kids at this school struggle to work as a team, especially with students they don’t know well and GRIT has vastly improved that! - Grade 8 Student