Research Reports, Public Speaking and Conversations Come to Life

Parker often refers to itself as a “model home” with all 14 grades learning and growing together under one roof. Programs like Big Siblings and Morning Ex and events such as County Fair are some of the more obvious examples of organized ways in which this concept comes to life at Parker. However, this model home shows up throughout the year when teachers collaborate across grades in a mutually beneficial experience that reinforces lessons from class and the Parker community.

One example occurred recently when Beverly “Greenie” Greenberg’s 1st grade students visited their counterparts in Alyssa Hasbun’s 3rd grade class. The 3rd graders had just completed a research project in which they studied a changemaker and created a biography poster report detailing their newfound knowledge of this person. At this point, while the project may have ended at other institutions, Hasbun and Greenie came together to take this lesson a step further.

Greenie’s 1st graders visited Hasbun’s classroom and listened attentively as each 3rd grade student spoke about their changemaker. “We practiced our presentation skills and public speaking by presenting to the 1st grade,” Hasbun explained. Next, these researchers took positions around the room, and Greenie’s 1st grade worked on their conversation skills by asking questions and learning directly from each 3rd grade presenter.

Hasbun explained the ways this sharing helped her young charges. “The students felt so confident sharing with younger students and were proud to teach them about their changemakers. It was great to help them build confidence with what they learned.”

Lessons like these highlight the everyday benefits of Parker’s model home and how faculty members always strive to push their curriculum further.

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