Fostering learning through community

For 22 years, that’s exactly what Warwick’s Partners in Education has sought to do Warwick - In the summer of 1984, Suzy Rosenblum was asked to develop a program here in Warwick that partnered parents and teachers in educating their children. It would be a multi-age classroom, using, at that time, what was considered different methods of teaching. With that, Warwick’s Partners In Education program, or PIE, was born. Rosenblum had experience in such an environment, doing her student teaching in a classroom with kids of various ages and also teaching in a Montessori program. Twenty-two years later, the PIE program is still going strong, with programs in Kings and Sanfordville elementary schools, from grades one through five. “The program is built around what the children want to learn about,” said Rosenblum. “We follow the same curriculum as a conventional class. It is just taught differently.” For example, Rosenblum’s class of first- and second-graders are learning about the human body. Spelling words are integrated into the lesson. Music and art are also part of that lesson. It is comprehensive — it’s not just science that deals with the topic. It is touched on in just about every subject. Parents and learning Parents are an integral part of the program. Teresa Polsky’s daughter, Gretta, is a first-grade student in Rosenblum’s classroom. Polsky volunteers every week to help out in the class. Her interest piqued when she heard that the class would be working on the human body. Polsky is a physical therapist so she brought her expertise to these lessons. “We did a lung capacity experiment that was a lot of fun,” said Polsky. “Other days I help the teacher administratively, making copies, or helping to supervise a group. We love PIE. It’s been a very positive experience for Gretta and us. “I really wanted something more for her, a richer experience, something more individualized to the student.” That has been a big plus for Gretta who is reading and doing phonics with the second graders. “It has really kept her interest. She can branch out in areas she would have had to wait for in a conventional classroom,” said her mom. “When she is a second grader, she will teach back what she’s learned.” Parents do not have to commit to helping out weekly in the classroom in order to enroll their children in the PIE program, though. There are other ways to help, noted Polsky. Parents can do prep work at home for the group or chaperone class trips or even help out on weekends. Lynn Lillian has one child who went through the PIE program and two more who are still active. Her older child’s transition to the middle school from the PIE program was very positive, she said. “She had a lot of skills at her disposal for the bump up in independence that is required at the middle school,” said Lillian. Learning from others Lillian likes the multi-age classroom offered with PIE and compares it to working in the real world. “There are many benefits of a multi-age classroom,” said Lillian. “Children’s learning is broadened by being with children who are in another place. They benefit from that. It’s like adults working. You learn from others and they learn from you. It mirrors real life.” It also creates a real connection between students and their families. “PIE fosters a really nice little learning community that is very close knit,” said Polsky. Lillian’s middle schooler has friends who are a year older and a year younger. There is a connection to all of their siblings as well, thanks to PIE. One misconception, according to Lillian, is trying to pinpoint a “PIE kid.” “There is no particular type of kid for PIE,” said Lillian. “It is more are you as a parent drawn to this program and its benefits?” It certainly never gets boring, even for the teachers. Looking back, Rosenblum said, some of what she, Beverly Braxton, and Maripat Barlowe-Lane, who were the first PIE teachers, taught and how they taught it was alien in the 1980s. Now, it is very mainstream. Integrated curriculum has never gone out of style, Rosenblum said. “It is always exciting and interesting,” said Rosenblum. “I’ve been doing it for 22 years without ever getting bored.” Find out more Parents interested in finding out more about the PIE program are invited to attend one of the upcoming informational meetings in January: • Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. at Kings Elementary • Saturday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. at Sanfordville Elementary • Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at Park Ave Elementary • Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. at Pine Island Elementary All meetings will be held in the library/media centers.