Often, when folks hear that our curriculum features Debate starting in Kindergarten, we get a few questioning looks. How do you teach debate to five-year-olds? Well, first you have to have an amazing Debate teacher like Speyer's Ms. MacKay…and then just sit back and watch it unfold! We thought we would check in with her to get the scoop on what is happening in Debate in the Lower School these days…and this is what she shared!
Read MoreFrom welcoming award-winning authors to exploring Pascal’s Triangle, from kicking off our all-school art project to celebrating National Chess Day, our gifted learners have been busy since the first day of school. Read on to find out what’s been happening at Speyer!
Read MoreOur students are exploring the history of the original people of New York with a specific focus on the ingenuity of the Lenape people as it relates to invention. With a behind-the-scenes peek into the American Museum of Natural History by an anthropologist and a very special visit from two individuals based out of Ketchikan, Alaska who are working to revitalize Native cultures, our students were able to see how what they are learning comes alive beyond the classroom.
Read MoreThe end of December was event-full – full of culminating events! Both our second and third graders presented their work to family and friends, with each event encompassing months of cross-curricular work and interdisciplinary units of study. We have a full round-up of the second grade’s Literary Lalapalooza and the third grade’s “From Colonies to Country” events!
Read MoreWho gets to tell the historical story…and why? What does it mean to “discover” land where people already existed and thrived? What are the consequences of essential omissions from historical texts? These were the questions that our fourth graders have been asking during their latest Humanities unit, tackling the big themes of perspective, discovery, and exploration as they studied of Christopher Columbus and the Taino people of the Caribbean. In their “Columbinating Event,” the students showcased what they learned in Humanities, Art, Writing, Science, Spanish, and more, highlighting one of the hallmarks of Speyer’s curriculum: interdisciplinary units of study.
Read MoreWe all know NYC is amazing, yet our city is more than just the metropolis in which we live – it’s also an extension of Speyer’s classrooms. One could say it’s been a field-trip-palooza these past few weeks, with treks to Central Park, Brooklyn, museums, and more!
Read MoreIn the first Lower School Assembly of the school year, the Lower School Team brought to life the book ish by Peter H. Reynolds. The book follows a little boy Ramon as he rekindles and rediscovers his love of drawing…even though his pictures aren’t perfect. Exploring the book’s themes of believing in yourself and remembering the beauty of the non-perfect “–ish” ness of learning was the best way to wrap up our first full week of school!
Read MoreSpeyer launched its first-ever celebration of Brain Awareness Week! Taking part in the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research, different subject teachers came together in a collaborative effort to engage students to explore ways the brain processes information, how we can improve self-regulation, and and how exercise and mindful breathing play an important role in brain development.
Read MoreSpotted on the Boulevard: Grandfriends!!! Yes, before we all scattered for Thanksgiving weekend, our Kindergarten and first grade students welcomed their Grandfriends to Speyer for a fun-filled morning!
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