Hans Indigo Spencer + Music at Breakwater

Hans Indigo Spencer + Music at Breakwater

Music at Breakwater offers students a developmentally sound, carefully sequenced curriculum in music literacy, with a focus on singing and creativity. Music teacher Hans Indigo Spencer combines his training in Kodàly pedagogy, his background as a jazz musician and media composer with his work as a K-8 general classroom teacher to provide students with a wide range of creative musical outlets.

Learn more about music at Breakwater and this year's Winter Concert...

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Gratitude

Gratitude

"Gratitude is a sort of laughter of the heart that comes about after some surprising kindness." (David Brooks)

We are all used to the idea that learning can improve our minds. However, we may not think as much about an equally important idea - that understanding our own character, and the fact that we all have strengths of character and character traits with which we struggle, allows us to know who we are and how our attitudes impact our lives. One especially compelling trait is gratitude. 

Happy Thanks-Giving! Read about the 5th and 6th grade's study of character.

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Earth Week 2017: No Child Left Inside

Earth Week 2017: No Child Left Inside

At Breakwater, we go outside. A lot. We understand that children need access to nature the same way they need good nutrition and adequate sleep. During Earth Week we bring children in purposeful and playful contact with the natural world, inspiring them to listen, look, question, feel, guess, discuss, and love the things they find all around them.

Read about our annual Earth Week here...

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Loose Parts - What are they and how do we use them on our playground?

Loose Parts - What are they and how do we use them on our playground?

"The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences." (Loris Malaguzzi)

What is "Loose Parts" play? What are loose parts? How do we use them on our playground? And how is this type of play, open ended and rich with possibility, representative of our approach to early childhood education? These questions are explored in this blog post by Stephanie Davis, a member of our preschool teaching team. 

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Curriculum Information

Curriculum Information

When we talk about the “Breakwater Way” we talk about curriculum across grade level and throughout our learning community. Our students, from toddler through 8th grade, are engaged in a learning experience that is authentic, hands-on, personalized, challenging and integrated.

But what does this actually look like? How does that show up for children on a daily basis? This is what we strive to make visible during our annual Curriculum Information Night.  Read on ....

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"Field Trips" in the Breakwater Way

"Field Trips" in the Breakwater Way

Seventy-three middle school students piled into buses and traveled to Camp Agawam in Raymond for Breakwater's annual overnight adventure. Next week, Sari Lindauer will take this year's CGF Breakwater Creators overnight to Unity to participate in the Common Ground Fair's "Youth Enterprise Zone".

Why does Breakwater prioritize outside-of-the-classroom learning experiences? Read on....

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And the magic begins....

And the magic begins....

Hooray! A new school year has begun! The quality of work we do in the first few weeks of school will lay the groundwork for a productive year of learning. Classrooms are full of play as teachers observe and interact with students to build strong bonds of trust and friendship. 

Read about how our teachers inspire children in these critical first days to embrace their school experience and become agents in their own learning.

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Your Top Five Back-To-School List!

Your Top Five Back-To-School List!

Current Families: Many at Breakwater describe our school community as an extension of home. We are honored by this acknowledgment, and committed to building strong partnerships between teachers, parents and the children we serve. Welcome to a new school year, and welcome home(-ish)!

To ease your transition from summer to September, here is an easy at-a-glance list of the top 5 important things to do before September 6.

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