The Role of Our Teachers

Teacher-guided and student directed. We seek out curriculum options and select materials that help design learning experiences rather than a one-way conveyance of information. We believe the teacher must be both guide and mentor – whichever works best to achieve Laurel's mission. 

We are not a Charlotte Mason modeled school. However, we strive to follow her developed method in which lessons were teacher-guided and student-directed. Mason taught, "The function of a teacher is to design learning experiences, not principally to convey information." We aim to follow her advice to "lecture little but remain available to guide or stimulate the student whenever needed." 

In some instances, depending on the students’ knowledge level and the subject matter, we employ a more hands-on approach. For example, when teaching children how to read, the teacher may implement a more traditional approach (e.g., direct phonics instruction). 

"What all good teachers have in common, however, is that they set high standards for their children and do not settle for anything less." Marva Collins