Every day we hear stories about America’s troubled education system. And we’re told that in order to fix what’s broken, we need to narrow our curricula, standardize our classrooms, and find new ways to measure students and teachers. But what…
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” ~ Frederick Douglass As students in fifth grade explore this year’s school theme*, they are learning the difference between a “growth mindset” and a “fixed mindset.” According to Carol Dweck, a…
When Frederick Douglass spoke these words, they were fighting words, anticipating the Civil War, and in some ways, the Civil Rights Movement. As a consequence of his own long and arduous struggle for freedom, Douglass understood that in physical and…
Congratulations to WSD Executive Director, Cindy Phillips, who was nominated for the 2016 Director of the Year award, given by the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools. The award is part of an annual recognition of the “Best of the Best”…
Prospective families and faculty who tour Weilenmann School of Discovery often remark on feeling a good “vibe” as they walk through our hallways and visit our classes in session. In fact, the positive energy and friendly feeling of WSD are…
Members of the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company spent two weeks on campus teaching Middle School students the finer points of modern dance, choreography, movement, and improvisation. In smaller grade level workshops, dancers Alex and Brad worked with students on specific dance…
As seventh graders transitioned between their science unit on cells to their next unit on heredity and genetics, they spent a week engrossed in examining the role of DNA in the human cell. The purpose of the project was to…
You can find out everything you want to know about wild animals from our second grade students. For the past several weeks, each student in the grade has researched a chosen animal, with the goal to be that animal’s resident…
Kindergarten students are busy preparing for their class Exhibition later this month. Their project is a wonderful integration of earth science, literature, and art — with a dash of drama — in a clever fracturing of the fairy tale, “Three…
One way to powerfully activate a student’s engagement is through project-based learning. Students in all grades at WSD participate in regular curricular and cross-curricular projects as a meaningful way to gain and apply deeper knowledge. The goal of project-based learning…