Building a culture where attending college is the normal state of affairs, Mary Ford Elementary School sets time aside each Friday for theme-based assemblies around the idea of succeeding in primary school and heading off to higher education.
The students gather in the assembly hall and each class chants the fight song of the school they’ve selected and announces their expected year of graduation. Third graders, for example, who continue straight through high school and finish college in four years will graduate in 2031. (Mark your calendar.)
Each day has a theme, for which classes design posters and learn related lessons.
And then there is fun.
Research shows children learn in many different ways; connecting learning to real life events and ideas helps give context and aid comprehension and memory.
And the fun keeps them engaged, particularly on a Friday.
