SBCS

When first arriving at Santa Barbara Charter School, I was impressed with the acknowledgment and acceptance that not all kids learn the same way and they were allowed to determine what worked best for them. I was also struck by how this teaching approach felt individualized, fostered independence and self-motivation, yet at the same time the class was working as a group. The teacher had time for each student individually and the classroom had the feel of getting down to the business of learning and fun at the same time. If a child finished work and was waiting for the teacher he/she would move to unfinished work, read a book, or play with blocks. I didn’t observe disruptive behavior. It’s not that this group of students didn’t act goofy as kids do; it’s that their silliness was easily absorbed into the overall atmosphere and they respected the learning environment. The approach was subtle yet incredibly effective.