Conway's teaching practices and learning experiences reflect current knowledge about successful teaching and learning. The following are descriptions of current strategies used at various grade levels that you may encounter in any discussion related to the school curriculum.

Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated instruction is a philosophy of instruction that provides research-based strategies and techniques that offer students additional ways to succeed and teachers additional ways to teach. For the past seven years, the entire staff has received training in developing lessons and units, which incorporate readiness, learning style, and interest. This requires Conway staff to first determine each child's readiness level, be aware of his/her learning style, and discover individual student interests. Our lesson plans include explanations of what we want the students to know, understand, and be able to do. The lesson also includes pre-assessment strategies to determine prior knowledge of the concepts being taught. With this information, the teacher can effectively tailor instruction to individual student needs. An example of a differentiated activity is a RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, and Topic) assignment. For this activity, students have choices in selecting how they will complete the assignment. The choices are based on learning style, readiness, or interest and are all rigorous. For example, format choices include a letter, an article, a discussion dialogue, a diary, or a written speech. Our mission and goals place children's unique needs and styles at the center of daily lesson planning, classroom configurations, and teaching practices. This results in high levels of achievement for all students.

Thoughtful Education

Thoughtful Education is a philosophy that recognizes individual learning differences and capitalizes on each student's natural ability and preferred style of learning to promote educational success. It is one of the avenues that we use to differentiate instruction. Conway teachers plan assignments, projects, teaching strategies, and assessments based on students' styles. This results in multiple options for groups, activities, tailored instruction, and assessment design. Research shows that children achieve their potential and develop intrinsic motivation when engaging their talent and strengths. Therefore, interwoven throughout our curriculum are strategies that are sensitive to learning style and complex thinking. We often refer to these as Thoughtful Education strategies. Our goal is to strengthen each child's competence in all styles and to give them tools to succeed in all the learning and teaching situations that they will encounter throughout their learning careers. Addressing student learning styles and utilizing these strategies allows Conway teachers to create a place of learning that is productive, creative, responsive, flexible, friendly, and in a word, thoughtful.

Multicultural Diversity

Ladue School District has a diverse population that contributes to the richness of educational experience afforded students who attend District schools. The District has made the cultivation, understanding, and appreciation of diversity within the District and larger community a priority in recent years. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, issues of race, language, multiculturalism, inclusion, and gender. The District embraces a wide variety of programs and curricular initiatives that support multicultural concepts and practices. The District Multicultural Infusion Committee continually studies and revises programs and instructional practices, as needed, to provide a learning environment that encourages students to strive to achieve at their highest level. As part of the Ladue School District, Conway staff are strongly committed to the implementation of the aforementioned initiatives.

Click Here to Visit our Conway Diversity Committee's Web Page

Love and Logic

Love and Logic is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in the interactions with children. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic is a way of working with children that puts parents and teachers back in control, teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world, with its many choices and consequences.

Love and Logic offers adults an alternative way to communicate with children. The Love and Logic techniques produce immediate results because the techniques are simple, practical, and easy to learn. The concepts behind Love and Logic place a heavy emphasis on respect and dignity for children and at the same time allows parents to grasp simple approaches instead of learning difficult counseling procedures.

Click Here to View "Wise Words from Love & Logic"

Please visit loveandlogic.com for more information....

Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS)

One of the foremost advances in school-wide discipline is the emphasis on school-wide systems of support that include proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create a positive school environment. PBIS, or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, is the system we use at Conway. Our support system is based on our Spotlight on Success words; the five Conway Promises.

The expectation we have for every Conway student is that she/he be responsible, respectful, safe, kind, and positive. These promises are taught and reinforced in all areas of the school.

As the students are making the Conway Promises part of their routine at Conway, they are also establishing a behavior guide for their life at home and in the community. PBIS looks for success!

Our Spotlight on Success poster, designed by a Conway parent, is a visual reinforcement of our five Conway Promises. You will see it in every classroom and throughout our building.

Click Here to View Conway Kids Expressing How to Be:
Positive
Respectful
Responsible
Kind
Safe

Please visit pbis.org for more information...