Personalized Learning

Students and teachers at Bridgeway Elementary School share how a badging system enables student choice and makes learning more engaging.

In 2018, the Pattonville Board of Education approved an update of the district's long-term strategic plan, which supports Pattonville’s continued move to personalized, competency-based approaches to learning. With personalized learning, students advance in their learning by demonstrating mastery of important concepts and skills (competencies). Learning is customized to student needs: time it takes to master the subject matter, the teacher’s instructional practices and the structure of the learning environment.  Take a look at how this concept is being used in Pattonville with math instruction at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Students at Holman Middle School dive deep into research and problem-solving via an Innovators program that provides students voice and choice. Eighth graders were challenged to create a product to benefit society and present on the end result. Teams were chosen to participate in an Innovators Showcase, where they were judged on their design, concept, and presentation. 

Parkwood Elementary School students spend an hour each week pursuing learning about what interests them. The school's Genius Hour puts empowers students to learn about what makes them passionate.

A new structure for fourth- and fifth-graders at Remington Traditional School is anything but traditional. Teachers are using a learning configuration that combines fourth- and fifth-grade students into four classrooms, with students changing core classes (English language arts, math, science and social studies) as needed to best meet their personal learning needs and strengths. 

Scouts can earn merit badges in personal-interest areas such as animal science to wilderness survival. But what if students in schools could personalize their learning the same way? If they attend Parkwood Elementary School, they can. First-grade teachers and the art teacher at Parkwood began a “badging” program this year as a way to personalize learning for their young students.