Category: Our Learning Styles

Benetech Research - Year 3!

12/17/2019

At MCS, we are not only focused on helping our students find their pathway into learning, but sharing these roadmaps with the educational world as well. This week, MCS got to once again work with one of our partners at Benetech to help develop technology for young learners. As a local non-profit, Benetech works to create software that makes it easier for impacted students to read and learn. MCS students got to test out reading software designed for similar learning types, and aid developers in collecting research for designing programs. Thanks to Benetech and people like them, more students with learning differences will have tools available to make learning more fun and accessible!

We are so happy to be able to connect with other non-profits and help them serve the LD community! This partnership has been ongoing for a few years now, and it's so wonderful to see the progress they've made :) To learn more about Benetech and their work in Education, visit their website here. Happy Learning!

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University of Tokyo Students Return!

10/22/2019

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They've returned! This month, MCS is happy to welcome back a new group of students from University of Tokyo to our Learning Lab. These students are on their way to becoming new teachers, and MCS is proud and grateful to be asked to share our teaching styles across the world with growing minds!

Through hands-on math, our visitors were able to experience learning in fashion similar to how our middle school students learn throughout the year. Each group of TSU students were given a math problem and instructed to use the Four Pillars of Learning to solve it together. Using this process, students had to build their math problems from manipulatives to show what they were thinking visually and explain it to others, all before using numbers and equations to show their work. By thinking about math this way, it helps learners who do not think using symbolic numbers, but rather in applied real world math. This process also addresses categorizing and labeling skills, which are commonly impacted areas in Executive Functioning for LD learners. Our visitors did a great job with this challenge, and even created some beautiful artwork to show their math! We're so impressed!

Thank you so much to the teachers are students at TSU! We're so happy to work with you and share our thoughts on LD learning - Can't wait to see you next year!

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MCS Education Abroad - Hong Kong!

4/22/2019

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It's time for education outreach, and this time it's worldwide! This Spring, MCS is proud to announce that we were invited to make our first trip to the 21CLHK (21st Century Learning Hong Kong) conference, and what a trip it was! At the conference, attendees “come together to learn, share and discuss current and emerging topics in education with thought leaders, technology, and learning experts," and aim to discover what other educators are developing in the world of specialized learning - the perfect place for MCS! We are so thrilled to know that there are so many others in the world who truly wish to focus on the quality of education across schools internationally!

Over the week, we discovered a great community of people who wish to make strides in teaching techniques, and schools who are striving to make a shift towards the type of education that My City School provides and advocates. One speaker, Andy Hargreaves, who is a great researcher and speaker on education, spoke to the point that a learning environment is important for both academics and social development:

"...schools are not only places where students acquire academic skills; they are also social environments where children can develop the social and emotional competencies they need to thrive. Well-being is needed to support achievement, especially where children come from backgrounds that present them with great challenges."

Our teaching model strongly supports the concept of making a workable environment like this, and uses a Wellness class to address different forms of wounding and triggers that can influence a student's ability to learn. We're so excited that this model, and others, are being touched on in the broader spectrum of learning!

Our experience at 21CLHK was truly inspiring, and we can't wait to start working with other schools to help spread ideas and continue to work towards changing education! Here's to more learning (and teaching) abroad!

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Fall Open House Recap

10/24/2018

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This October, we got the best treat of all: an amazing Open House! Thank you so much to everyone who came out, and participated in learning with us! We had a great time, and we hope you learned a little bit about our world and how we teach here at MCS :) Also a huge thank you to our students who shared spoke about their journey through learning with us - we're so happy to have you with us!

Here's a little bit of info on our Open House, for those who weren't able to make it:

Part of what makes MCS a unique and engaging place is that we get out into the world, and approach learning hands on. This year, part of our Open House included exploring the 4 Pillars of Learning (Build, Draw, Explain and Write) to solve a math problem! This way, we not only give the information, we can give the experience as well. In small groups, parents and educators were taken through this process to solve a math problem, and in working on it together, were introduced to some of the ways our students look at learning. The answers we received were awesome - check out some of the building and the experience below!

In addition to our building, we also heard from current students about their experience at MCS, and how they have developed strategies while learning with us. We're so proud of all our kids, and are thrilled about how far they've come on their learning journey!

If you were unable to make it this time, have no fear! MCS is offering another Open House event in January 2019. Feel free to get in touch on our Contact page for more information. We'd love to hear from you!

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MCS Welcomes Students from Tokyo Seitoku University!

10/3/2018

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At MCS, we are always focused on sharing and extending teaching tools to all who wish to make a difference, offering strategies to help improve the world of education and professional development through learning. This week, we were lucky enough be able to reach across the world, and host a group of 40 young teachers in training, from Tokyo Seitoku University! In teams, these student teachers acted as MCS students for 1 hour, accessing the 4 Pillars of Learning - Build, Draw, Explain, and Write - to solve a math problem.

Each team worked together through the 4 Pillars of Learning, and experienced each stage as an MCS student. TSU students first built their math problem, using 3D manipulatives, to help visualize what the problem was asking. They then drew out their thinking on paper, using images and symbols. Once their problems were drawn out using pictures, students could explain their thought process, and write down in words how they solved it! This system is one of many MCS uses when helping students access their learning and thrive as hands-on learners.

MCS is so happy to have the opportunity to share with our fellow educators. Thank you so much to the TSU students for coming all the way to MCS to learn! We had a great time, and hope to see you and other future educators again soon!

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MCS Student Takes 3rd Place at EDREV!

4/26/2018

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Back again, and we've been busy! This week, we are so thankful to have been able to participate once again in the 10th Annual EdRev Expo! Along with meeting wonderful people and attending educational workshops, student were also given the great opportunity to enter their artwork in the EdRev Art Gallery Competition. Each student created a piece of art - painting, modeling, and video - to illustrate how they feel about their academic journey with us so far. One of our 6th graders even won 3rd place for her video! See it and other students' work here, and check out EdRev on their website!

"Icky's Adventures" by Charlotte Gilliand

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Benetech Research - Year 3!

University of Tokyo Students Return!

MCS Education Abroad - Hong Kong!

Fall Open House Recap

MCS Welcomes Students from Tokyo Seitoku University!

MCS Student Takes 3rd Place at EDREV!

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