Thank you for your interest in Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public Elementary School!
We welcome Kindergarten through third grade students from varied socioeconomic, cultural, and family backgrounds. At Abby Kelley we believe that children succeed when there is a strong partnership between home and school. We encourage this partnership by opening our doors to families frequently with opportunities such as our open house, biannual individualized conferences, and monthly family events. There are also many volunteer opportunities and an active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). We encourage families to ask questions and be involved as much as is comfortable!
We specialize our instruction to meet the needs of our youngest learners. We utilize the play-based learning model that is recommended by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). In this model, kids interact with content in a way that allows for experimentation and personal discovery. It also allows for them to grow socially and emotionally, and learn to collaborate with others. To support the social-emotional growth and health of our students, we incorporate the responsive classroom model. Through this model, teachers and students develop deep relationships with each other and their learning community. All classrooms also meet weekly with a wellness specialist that delivers instruction in how to understand and manage emotions, control reactions, be aware of others’ feelings, and learn problem-solving skills to guide them through responsible decision making.
High academic expectations are held for all of our learners. Some of the high quality materials that we use to implement our standards-based instruction are Ready Math, Fundations, Heggerty, Ready Wonders, Foss, and loads of evidence based practices! This instruction is delivered through a combination of whole group, small group, and individualized instruction. Students strengths and needs are assessed routinely using both formal and informal methods. Our dedicated teachers use these results, as well as input from the home and classroom, to ensure that every student is getting what they need and making progress. We utilize culturally responsive teaching practices that encourage students to do most or all of the thinking during the lesson, engage in collaborative dialogue with one another about the content, and use precise academic vocabulary.
Students receive instruction in a Specials area every day. Specials include art, music, physical education, library, technology, and social emotional learning. All Specials curricula are aligned to state standards and promote student growth and mastery of course outlined expectations. Specialists collaborate with classroom teachers throughout the year to support cross-curricular transfer and application of knowledge.
What makes our school a community is the dedication of our staff and our families. Our teachers attend ongoing professional development to stay current with the most up-to-date teaching practices and guidance offered by DESE. Our families are engaged in their student’s learning and are active participants in their education. If you have any questions about specific practices or curricula used here, please reach out at any time. We look forward to the opportunity to partner with you in your child’s education!
