Take a Peak

Take A Peak

A day in the life at one constituent’s elementary school

WhenI attended a Panel for Educational Policy meeting this year to speak out on the need to approve more Success Academy locations, I was taken aback when a student member of the panel said there should be more diversity among NYC Schools teaching staff but then recommended denying more Success Academy locations. I knew I wanted to showcase what’s happening at my kids’ schools if it could help change some minds.

I HAVE THREE CHILDREN in three Success Academy locations. Each one employs an array of faculty to cover everything from dance to mechanical engineering. I dropped in on our elementary school in Bensonhurst for three days, following mostly 2nd grade classes.

Ms. E helps a 2nd grader. Mr. Knight listens to an art elective scholar explain her work. Ms. Bryant leads a math lesson.

Coaches, teaching assistants, and specials teachers, like Coach Stefano and Ms. Martin, reflect Brooklyn.

Ms. Campbell is one of four science teachers. Scholars attend science class every day without sacrificing the prep work required for homeroom teachers to be sure everyone is on track with reading and math.

Mr. McDermott said he has a group of 4th graders who regularly gather to ask him questions at the end of every class.

All the Books

Reading can take you anywhere

Every classroom has its own library. While everyone is encouraged to get a library card and use an online app, all kinds of printed books are available.

Targeted groups help scholars continue to excel at their own paces.

Scholars book shop weekly to be sure they always have reading material in their backpacks. Above, Ms. Pregony accepts the returned books. Below, two scholars who finished class work quickly take up books to keep themselves busy.

Targeted Learning

Small groups focus guidance so the whole class can keep moving forward to participate and support each other.

During the time I was in classrooms, all sorts of scholars were quick to raise their hands and even more were ready to tell the person next to them how to attack a problem. Sorting pictures for this pamphlet, the enthusiasm on some of their faces made it hard to figure out if they were doing work or playing games because both things seemed to delight them.

This is the third year my family has had Ms. Pregony as a teacher. My second-born had her for both Kindergarten and 2nd Grade. Then my thirdborn has her this year for 2nd Grade. Here she’s working on math with a small group. Ms. Pregony has always struck me as high touch in the sense of how personable she is.

High Touch

Not everything happens on a screen

All scholars are provided Google accounts and technology, but work still happens on paper and white boards. Kindergartners go to Blocks—a whole room devoted to building with wood blocks. None of my pictures show it, but science experiments require scholars to measure and build in real life. There’s more than just screens at school.

Kindergartners start a math lesson with the printed copy of the number story while 2nd graders work out math on white boards and note cards.

Downtime is a key part of the day, connecting teachers to scholars and helping everyone recharge.

ONE OF OUR BIGGEST OPPONENTS before the school opened now does read-alouds in the Bensonhurst classrooms. You don’t have to read aloud, but we’d love to show you around!

Sincerely,

Madeline Vega 184 Bay 26th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11214