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Show ul B6 WASATCH OCTOBER COUNTY COURIER 18, 2000 SUNDANCE are eager to talk about how I came to this school, I had no style of learning. We abide by and CONTINUED FROM B1. much they enjoy the school. idea what a mule deer was.” state rules, but how we teach is An articulate seventh-grad“T came here because this er named Jennifer enjoys workwas the best school we could find. It’s really fun. Instead of| ing at her own level, and finds the multi-age group environspending hours and hours learning about one subject, we ‘ment ° ‘stimulating.” ‘In 1998, some Sundance can learn about world history in have a math professor from Utah State teach. The small setting is a strength, and we intend to stay small,” said but he praises each of them. Next, lights dimmed and music playing, they begin working on their nature journals, detailing experiences from their morning hike. Archibald posts a list of words, residents searched for alternatalk about it, instead of just lis- tive education that would offer a few minutes because we can children. in the area a sense of tening to the teacher talking,” some as simple as ‘deer’, othsaid fifth-grader Laura Niedfelt. ers, such as ‘solitary’ offer a “It’s really cool because we are challenge. Becca, a six-year-old really good friends with kindergartner, begins to write, younger people. It is easier to “10/12/00, a cold walk with know how to = stuff here. Until deer...” During lunch, the kids community and environmental ‘education. Concurrently, Utah legislators passed a law allowing for charter schools-publicly funded schools that address different issues than tradition- al education. Currently, eight schools exist, focusing on subjects such as performing arts, ~ the environment and youth at risk. While the teaching style may differ, traditional subjects- and exam requirements- factor into the curriculum. A state lottery drawing chooses stu- dents; in some cases, such as siblings, their chances of being 4 2 of teaching. I will work things in, like learning to average, that I know they need to know. Kids like real things,” said Archibald, who revealed that most of the furniture in the classroom was built by the students. “If you teach typical teaching you get good test results, but this way you get L he keeping © students “believes - interested sores successful learning. aa wanted a different adding parent is required to tribute time in.some way. the compostor. events announce that world occurred October, including Mao Zedong in the 1935 Chinese Communist Party march and Jim Thorpe’s 1912 Olympic conquest. All students are the con- As the clouds move in and day darkens, Archibald retain what they've learned.” Even though the classroom has an environmental slant, the children are presented with much more. Signs at the center of the room that We school receives less than half the tax dollars of other schools. He noted that every gathers the students to begin designing and building a waste Drawing a grid on the dry-erase board, he asks the students for their design input and presents them with a math-ematics question about division. A lot of raised hands fight for attention, and Archibald thanks each student for their guess, but — it is six-year-old Riley that offers the correct answer. “It feels like it is working. It is a really supportive system required to choose questions _ for the kids their families and ‘Board member and resident, Mike Sundance Benefield, who said he is also ‘Custodian/C.E.O./Principal/ Maintenance if needed, couldn't be happier with the school. His. son, William, a secondgrader, “really loves working with the older kids. “I. was skeptical. of the multi-age classroom, but we’ve seen. results. I wouldn’t want my son anywhere else. There is so much talent up here with the scientists, artists, UE I. Benefield, things engrained. The tests may not be the same, but they | selected aré increased, slightly. . _other students posted on a bulArchibald, who taught at letin board, do independent ee Teton Science School and — research and post results. Utah State’s Edith Bowen Lab, Jennifer, Cecily and Katie write in their nature journals. up to us. Projects are our way cinematographers. dents,” Archibald said... “We found the right vehicle for what we wanted: an environmentally centered curricu- lum that still teaches whatneeds to be taught. Kids at other schools learn the ‘what and when’, but not the ‘how and why’,” Benefield said. “If we can teach kids how to recognize a problem, pose questions and plan a process to present to a large group then we've taught children to be problem solvers. That is what the world needs.” <2 and Sam, 10, work oe io overs a _gomnost eontainer a3 UTILA) aa We i Atul JJU + gare authors me. We have a long waiting list that is open to any Utah resi- S.M.S. students view wildlife through new telescopes. Ee e, Steve Archibald teaching the Sundance Mountain School students. |