More and more these days, as I watch our students working in classrooms, it makes me feel old.

On a recent visit to first- and second-grade classrooms, I was struck by how easily this new generation of students adapts to the use of instructional technologies.

In second-grade classrooms, I watch students use a piece of software designed to foster mental math skills. To enhance students’ understanding of place value, they used both a digital display tool and a tangible cardboard rolodex to calculate three- and four-digit addition and subtraction problems, with carrying and borrowing. The confluence of these digital and manipulative tools reinforced these difficult concepts in a way that built a true conceptual understanding, not just a rote algorithm.

In the first-grade classrooms next door, I saw the power of a digital tool called C-SAW that Lower School teachers on both campuses have been using the last couple of years. As part of a phonics unit, students used their iPads to compose sentences with rhyming words, each with the same diphthong and final consonant. They submitted their sentences to their teacher on C-SAW for review and comment. As a result, all of their work, throughout the year, can be archived in a digital portfolio so that they, as well as their teachers and families, can track and celebrate progress.

Clearly, it’s a brave new world out there, and it is very exciting to see how comfortable our students are with these new digital learning tools. Thanks to all involved!

Chris Garten
Head of School