The Cambridgeport School’s teachers and families work as a community toward ensuring the success of every child. The school values the culture and beliefs that each child brings to the classroom, and teachers believe that children must engage with their world in order to make sense of it and build their knowledge.
Cambridgeport’s instructional structure of looped classrooms supports the school’s philosophy. Beginning in 1st grade, students remain with their class and teacher for two years, through the end of 2nd grade. Students have a new teacher for 3rd grade, and, similarly, spend two years with that teacher and class, through the end of 4th grade. They then spend one year with their 5th grade teacher. The strong bonds that forms between the teacher and students supports a deeper level of understanding, learning and engagement.
Teachers provide learning experiences that guide and capture students’ interests while helping them to develop literacy and math skills, think critically, problem solve and engage in rich scientific and historical inquiry. Learning expeditions, such as exploring the life cycle and importance of butterflies or the role of fables within a culture or society, allow students to investigate a topic and produce work that has a specific purpose and an authentic audience.
Signature programs: