Flexibility Statement
Our desire to meet students needs, interests and aspirations is of the foremost importance at Metropolitan Schoolhouse.
We keep this as the focus while making all of our curricular decisions. That said, if a student is not able to thrive in a class we are more than happy to make
modifications to their individualized plan to ensure they are having the most suitable learning experience.
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate Organization is an international organization that provides schools with a framework for teaching and learning that enhances real world application and international mindedness among students. It started in 1968, with its program aimed at high school aged students. This is the most commonly known program. In the 1990s the IBO created the Primary Years Program, which has the same core goals of fostering international mindedness among young people. In the Primary Years Program, which Metropolitan Schoolhouse will be implementing in grades K-8, international mindedness is defined by the IB Learner Profile:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
Metropolitan Schoolhouse is a candidate school* for the PYP. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy- a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students.
Transdisciplinary Themes
Metropolitan Schoolhouse fosters the development of the IB Learner Profile traits through transdisciplinary units of inquiry. These units transcend the bounds of a typical academic classes while applying content to a real world context. This is done through a plan of six units of inquiry throughout the school year focusing on six different themes. Each theme is planned out in correlation with common core state standards and students needs. While all students K-8 will be working on the same theme at the same time, each class will be conducting unique units of inquiry. The Transdisciplinary theme are as follows:
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- Sharing the planet
- How the world works
- Where we are in place and time
- How we organize ourselves
- How we communicate
- Who we are
These large overarching themes are flexible and are modified to meet the students’ needs and abilities. The transdisciplinary units of inquiry allow us to create a bridge from classroom learning to real world application.
Because of our small class sizes we are able to create differentiated learning programs for each of our students that foster a love of learning while aiding them in achieving individual goals. Our classes and schedules vary each year depending on our student population. Each year we develop groupings of core academic and extracurricular classes that meet the diverse needs of our students.
Metropolitan Schoolhouse has chosen to utilize the study of science and social studies as the foundation of our transdisciplinary units throughout the school year. That said, the content that students are covering in their Mathematics and English Language Arts classes will have significant crossover into the day by day teaching and learning. The weekly schedule will have time for subject specific classes as well as dedicated Unit of Inquiry time.
Multi-Age Learning Approach
The K-2 pod has the majority of their classes with their homeroom teacher. In this pod there is a high focus on literacy learning, and meeting each student where they are in their literacy journey. While there is the same philosophy behind each of the single subject classes in this pod as there is in the others, there is an enhanced focus on the fundamental skills to ensure students’ success.
Foreign Language
Foreign language proficiency is highly valued at Metropolitan Schoolhouse. All students, in kindergarten through high school, will take a foreign language course. Our primary foreign language is Spanish, which is taught by a fluent Spanish speaker. Spanish is taught in a multi-modality approach which focuses on building Spanish language proficiency through a wide range of listening, speaking, writing, and reading activities. We also take advantage of the vibrant Spanish speaking communities here in Chicago by arranging field trips throughout the year that provide students authentic experiences to practice and improve their Spanish.
Holistic Learning Classes
At Metropolitan Schoolhouse we believe that learning reaches far beyond core academic subjects. We seek to facilitate the development of the whole child by providing time and space for learning to take place in a variety of avenues. Each year we evaluate our student population and create a comprehensive program with the aim of fostering essential life skills. Past Holistic Learning has included Movement, Visual Arts, Dramatic Arts, Health, Library, and independent research classes.
Information and Communication Technologies
Metropolitan Schoolhouse believes that technological competency is key in the development of lifelong learners. Students here gain proficiency with numerous tools and applications and are able to transfer these acquired skills into their lives and futures. We use technology in a way that enhances teacher, parent, and student communication and coordination both in and out of school.
We aspire to promote students’ independence and executive functioning skills through the use of technology in all of our classes. By using a variety of tech tools students are able to work independently and collaboratively with a teacher support and minimal interference. This not only builds crucial life skills, but fosters confidence and self esteem as students grow to be more independent. As the world becomes increasingly globalized it is of increasing importance that students become comfortable using the tools at our disposal to participate in our global society.
The Tech Tools of Metropolitan Schoolhouse
- One Google Chromebook for each student
- iPads to be shared throughout the school
- Controlled Access to the Internet
- A variety of platforms and applications that are tailored to students needs
* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.