Building success in school AND in life
“Why do we have to learn this?” is the question posed to teachers several times a year. Students who lack the trust or patience to engage during some lessons might allow this question to roll through their minds. However, when Chehalis Middle School teachers Josie [...]
W. F. West will train its own baristas and open shop March 15
Educational options for career pathways have recently increased at W. F. West thanks to new Business and Marketing teacher Kristin Ciolli. Students in Ms. Ciolli’s class have been abuzz with energy and excitement (and maybe a little caffeine) in preparation for the grand opening of [...]
Building thinking classrooms
Thinking happens mostly in our heads, invisible to others and even to ourselves. However, in math classrooms at Chehalis Middle School, students make their thinking visible - to everyone. CMS math teachers are bringing out some of the best in student thinking using a new [...]
Two-tiered transportation schedule likely to continue
Nearly three years have passed since schools across the country sent students and staff home and closed their doors. The pandemic caused a major disruption in the educational system, and thankfully, classrooms are looking more “normal” than they have in years. But a closer look [...]
Using discourse to remember math concepts
If called upon to create a graph of a linear function such as y=2x, how many adults would successfully recall instruction in their high school mathematics class? Investigating long-term memory of knowledge learned in school is challenging and fascinating. Some researchers have determined that remembering [...]
Your Voice Matters: Common thoughts among parents and staff
What’s working well in the Chehalis School District and what can we improve? These questions were asked of parents in the fall. In fact, anyone could respond to these questions. They were posed in an online conversation using the engagement tool called Thoughtexchange. Nearly eleven [...]