đź“– The Lasting Impact of How Children Learn
I Cannot Overstate the Power of Collaborative Learning
The way a child engages with learning today shapes how they will approach life—fueling their ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and navigate an increasingly complex world. At WHPS, we prioritize active engagement, problem-solving, and meaningful collaboration over passive worksheet drills because true depth of learning comes from discussion, exploration, and independent thinking—not from filling out packets.
If it looks like this starts small in Kindergarten, that’s because it does. In these early years, students begin to see themselves as readers and writers with unique perspectives. They publish personal narratives, how-to books, and even persuasive writing. But more importantly, they are developing the learning structures that will carry them forward. These foundations strengthen in first grade and fully take shape in the upper elementary years, where the investment in this kind of education—and the learning structures we use at WHPS—comes fully into focus. The best thing parents and teachers can do at this stage is lay the groundwork—building independence and confidence—because it all pays off in what comes next.
Step into an upper elementary classroom at WHPS, and you’ll see this in action…
🏫 Inside a Thriving Classroom: The Heartbeat of Learning
📖 Focused Small Groups – Students analyze quality literature, discussing how descriptive language and narrative techniques bring stories to life, capturing compelling examples in their writer’s notebooks.
📚 Book Club Collaboration – In book clubs, students develop the precise skills needed to move to the next level in a reading progression that extends through 12th-grade standards. While they may all be reading together, their discussions push far beyond basic comprehension. They analyze themes, debate an author’s intent, and make inferences—engaging in the kind of deep thinking and communication that experts say are essential in a world where AI can automate routine tasks but cannot replicate human insight and creativity.
🧠Advanced Readers Engaged – Higher-level students dive into sophisticated texts, wrestling with the deeper questions that define great literature. They debate characters’ motivations, examine historical context, and make connections across texts, developing analytical skills that extend far beyond a single assignment.
📝 Peer Editing & Constructive Feedback – Students exchange writing and offer precise, actionable feedback—suggesting ways to build tension in the rising action or recommending a “show, not tell” approach to bring the reader deeper into the narrative. They don’t just correct errors; they push one another to write with power and clarity.
📢 Share-Outs & Reflection – Teachers create space for students to showcase their thinking, whether by sharing a powerful line of writing, explaining a new insight, or defending a literary interpretation. At times, this extends beyond the classroom, with students presenting their work to authentic audiences during publishing celebrations and other community events. These experiences reinforce that their ideas and voices matter, giving them real-world confidence in their ability to communicate, persuade, and inspire.
This level of sophisticated thinking doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built intentionally, step by step. Even highly gifted lower elementary students don’t yet have the independence to fully navigate these structures. That’s why everything we do is backward-planned—moving students through carefully designed stepping stones to prepare them for the confidence, responsibility, and ownership we expect of a WHPS fifth-grade graduate.
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Like many of us, I grew up in a traditional school system—where all 30 of us tackled the same textbook chapters and raced to finish end-of-chapter questions. I earned good grades, but if I’m being honest, I never became an avid reader in those days. I didn’t see myself as a writer with important messages to share, the ability to use writing to foster change (something even our kindergarteners do), or feel that I had a unique voice and point of view worth contributing to the world.
That changed when I began teaching over two decades ago. I joined a grant-funded action research project exploring a different approach—not one that changed what we teach, but how we teach. While it wasn’t called workshop teaching at the time, it used many of the same principles: collaborative learning, structured opportunities for students to support and challenge one another, and clear frameworks that helped students take ownership of their learning. It was my first real taste of a deeply student-centered approach—one that focused less on compliance and more on engagement, independence, and critical thinking.
The results were striking. Even in classrooms with a 30:1 ratio, students learned how to work together meaningfully, developed confidence in their ideas, and became more invested in their learning. But despite its success, the model was never fully implemented by the district. And that’s not surprising. Most public schools—and even many private, traditionally structured schools—don’t invest fully in this kind of teaching, largely because it requires a fundamental shift in mindset, extensive teacher training, and significant resources. Even though decades of educational research show that collaborative, student-centered learning is far more effective than traditional methods, systemic barriers often prevent schools from making that shift.
When I arrived at WHPS, I brought that same energy and passion—determined to build a program where students don’t just memorize information but own their learning. Here, every child is given the tools to develop their voice, learn how to collaborate effectively, and grow into a person who not only thinks critically but also feels empowered to share their ideas with the world.
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At WHPS, our student-to-teacher ratio of about 1:12 is a game-changer. With smaller classes, we can:
Confer Daily: Provide individual and small-group feedback so every student is seen and supported.
Flexibly Group Students: Adapt groupings based on each child’s evolving needs, ensuring that every learner is both challenged and encouraged.
Customize Instruction: Introduce broad topics to the whole class while working in targeted groups to reinforce fundamentals or stretch advanced skills.
This isn’t merely a scheduling advantage—it’s a commitment to a model proven by research, yet rarely replicated in other schools due to systemic constraints. The kind of academic depth, independence, and confidence our students develop isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s built intentionally, year after year, in a way that positions them for long-term success.
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Our approach doesn’t stop at academic success. By embedding collaborative learning into every day, we cultivate skills that transfer seamlessly to life beyond school. Students learn to share, listen, and respond constructively—traits that prepare them for real-world challenges, future careers, and informed decision-making. They develop a robust ability to self-advocate and support others, laying the foundation for holistic growth that endures long after the school day ends.
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At the core of our educational philosophy is the workshop model—a revolutionary shift in how teaching and learning are experienced. This model is far more than a teaching strategy; it’s a comprehensive reimagining of education that:
Empowers Students: Instills a deep sense of purpose, ownership, and agency over their learning journey.
Nurtures Meaningful Feedback: Sustains an environment where students consistently give, receive, and apply impactful feedback—not just from teachers, but from peers across age groups and abilities.
Builds Real-World Skills: Prepares learners with the critical thinking, adaptability, and practical skills needed for success far beyond the classroom.
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When a school fully embraces the power of collaborative learning, it doesn’t just enhance academic outcomes—it transforms lives. Our integrated approach, underscored by the workshop model and a deep commitment to feedback and collaboration, sets students on a trajectory of lifelong achievement.
At WHPS, we are not simply teaching content; we are shaping confident, capable individuals who are ready to seize every opportunity and lead with purpose well into the future. The work we do with students today builds the foundation for everything that follows. The further they go in our program, the more evident it becomes that this is not just an education—it’s an investment in their future.
🎓 Where Everything Comes Together
By fourth and fifth grade, students own their learning in ways that set them apart.
This becomes especially clear when our graduates return for our Middle School Alumni Panel. Year after year, students and parents reaffirm the same experience: They consistently express they entered middle school not just academically prepared, but as self-directed learners, ready to navigate new challenges with purpose.
This commitment to fostering independent, engaged learners hasn’t gone unnoticed. During our last accreditation renewal, the visiting team highlighted one of WHPS’s greatest strengths:
"One of the areas that stood out most to the visiting team was the way WHPS fosters student agency. Their students don’t just complete assignments—they know how to advocate for themselves, ask meaningful questions, and take ownership of their learning. We have not seen this level of student empowerment anywhere else in elementary education, and it’s clearly one of the school’s greatest strengths."
— Jenni Helj, Accreditation Committee Chair
These final years at WHPS aren’t just the last chapter of elementary school—they are where everything comes together, shaping the thinkers, problem-solvers, and leaders our graduates become.
