Living Curriculum

At the heart of the Tremont School is a multi-disciplinary project-based model we call The Living Curriculum.  The Living Curriculum takes a highly personalized approach to education that focuses on our students' strengths, interests, and individual learning styles.  The primary goal of the curriculum is to promote the intrinsic understanding of the material through a guided discovery process that is interdisciplinary in nature and hands-on in approach.  Collaborative exercises are woven into the daily schedule for each student, encouraging exploration, engaged participation, and problem solving.

The Living Curriculum is organized into two main blocks.  Learning Blocks in the morning provide extended time for math/science/technology or humanities using a flexible schedule that allows for depth of study and differentiated instruction.  The afternoon Living Block provides two hours of project-based, multidisciplinary study where students work in small groups practically applying the subject matter they have been working on in their morning Learning Blocks.

The overall curriculum is divided into themed units of varying length – from two to five weeks – and a presentation of learning will take place at the end of each theme where students will get an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned to parents, peers, and the extended community.  The academic curriculum will align with the Massachusetts Frameworks for each grade level.

Additional programs include P.E. and an expansive arts program we call Expressions.  Part of our afternoon Living Block will involve expeditionary learning opportunities throughout the year such as analyzing soil samples from a local farm, designing and building a tool shed for a non-profit organization, or creating, writing, and updating a class Facebook page and blog.  Our Visiting Scholars program will bring in experts on a variety of subjects for an in-depth discussion of local and national issues built around the current unit's theme.

Because we feel strongly that in order for kids to be active learners they need to be active, we have scheduled two recess blocks each day.  Overall, the school day is paced to provide ample opportunity for students to move, explore, and conduct experiments in an exciting and engaging environment.