October 18, 2024
The following was written by Meeting Street Schools Chief Academic Officer Nisha Vasavada.
Meeting Street Schools is a network where educators grow, not stagnate.
Take Emily Godwin. She’s a seasoned educator who’s driven meaningful results for her students. And she can point to improvements in her fourth-grade classroom this year.
She described her lesson structure as more consistent and predictable, and she said that’s helping her students think more deeply and better grasp the day’s lessons.
This progress is one example of a significant shift in the way we approach instruction at Meeting Street Schools.
I’d like to share more about what we’re doing and why we believe it is – and will – make a difference in students’ learning.
A NEW DEFINITION OF INSTRUCTION
At Meeting Street Schools, we believe instruction is made of three components that often get lumped together. But this distinction is important in how we support teachers. The parts are:
WHY CURRICULUM IS IMPORTANT
These days, the buzzword in education is executing the curriculum with fidelity, or doing it exactly as is. This focus is well intentioned; it’s to ensure teachers leverage the high-quality instructional materials in front of them. Curriculum sets the rigor bar for students, but we cannot lose our content within it.
Without curriculum, teachers scramble to create lessons, using materials from Pinterest or paying other teachers, and this can create real inconsistency in rigor and inequity for students, particularly for kids of color. The Opportunity Myth study speaks to the deep need for high-quality instructional materials in schools nationwide and that far too many students do not get grade-level curriculum.
Somewhere along the line, we’ve gotten so focused on implementing the materials as is that we may have inadvertently stifled critical thinking of teachers, which thus stifles critical thinking of students.
At Meeting Street Schools, we want our teachers to think deeply about their instruction. If we want students to productively struggle with the content, our teachers and leaders have to do so first.
HOW WE APPROACH CURRICULUM
Many high-quality curricula on the market are akin to all-you-can-eat buffets. There’s a lot of choice and variety within lessons, and some choices are healthier for student learning than others.
As we all know, buffets can be overwhelming and overcomplicated. You may fill your plate with food you don’t need or even want because you got distracted by all the attractive options.
The same goes for curricula. Some experts have argued that many curricula rated “green” on Ed Reports are actually not created equally. There is massive variance in the way student tasks build on each other meaningfully, and the ease with which a teacher can pick it up and understand it. Any teacher who has driven gap-closing results for students at the margins can attest to this variance in curricular design.
Now imagine if you could support teachers in making the healthy choices within that buffet, so students get the vegetables fruits, and protein in the lesson.
Not only do we want them to get to the healthiest part of the lesson, we are teaching teachers how to facilitate that healthy part of the lesson so students have to actually grapple and “chew” on it. This is hard and a whole new way of teaching for many of us. Good teaching means we plan for students to get confused at the most important parts then use that confusion to get to clarity.
This is one example of how Meeting Street Schools is taking a different instructional approach to our use of curriculum.
We do that both by 1) training teachers on how to identify the healthiest choices no matter what materials are in front of them and also 2) actually trimming down the choices we present, by simplifying the existing curricular materials and increasing the predictability of their daily lesson structures. Doing this empowers both teachers and students, and both achieve their goals.
SIGNS OF PROGRESS
It’s early in the school year but we believe our efforts are taking root in our classrooms.
Zooming back to Emily’s classroom, she highlighted one particular student’s growth as a result of these instructional shifts.
The student started the school year by reacting with frustration and anger each time they discussed his mistakes. Just one month later, his reaction to a mistake was to ask whether they could meet at lunch to talk about it.
“It feels like students are more willing to take risks and make mistakes,” she said. “They know our class structure and focus completely on the content – what we’re doing and why. And that’s been so powerful.”
By helping teachers navigate the buffet of curriculum with intentionality, we hope to empower them to make strategic choices and serve up the best possible learning experiences—every single day.
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Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg is as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. The Academy is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Meeting Street – Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this neighborhood Public School of Innovation is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, Meeting Street – Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Meeting Street – Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the Meeting Street Schools network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, Meeting Street – Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at Meeting Street – Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. The school exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, Meeting Street – Burns is forging a new path in public education.
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
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