Read Naturally's research-based reading interventions have helped Matthew and his classmates become fluent readers and make solid gains in comprehension and vocabulary. Matthew loves being able to work independently and also track his progress by graphing his pass scores! Read Naturally Encore II has allowed Ms. Searles to differentiate instruction easily and accelerate students' reading achievement using both printed materials and audio CDs. Visit our website to learn more about our program today

Throughout our unit on Matter, our 4th and 5th grade students have been provided with different opportunities to practice aspects of and demonstrate their understanding of performance expectations aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), for example: 5-PS1-4 Conduct an investigation to whether the mixing of two or more substances results in new substances. One of the lesson objectives was to identify different changes that can happen to matter. Students first learned how a chemical change is different from a physical change. To wrap up the lesson, we conducted an experiment with a baking soda mixture and blackberries. Students [...]

A pandemic and social distancing hasn't stopped students in Hamden's K-3 classroom from making new friends this school year! Focusing on the Common Core State Standards for writing, students started writing friendly letters to their pen pals at High Road School of Fairfield County in October. Students learned about the different parts of a letter, like the heading, body, closing and signature and practiced their neatest handwriting! After writing their first letter, they got to virtually meet their pen pals when they attended Fairfield County's Science Fair. They even got to ask some of their pen pals questions about their [...]

Juliana was selected for student of the month for the month of October 2020. She has worked incredibly hard to remain on Blue level the entire month! She has remained on Blue level since the beginning of the school year by staying focused on herself and showing a great deal of persistence. She has motivated peers to do the same, always encouraging her classmates to stay on task and do the right thing. Ms. McClammy, school social worker says, “Juliana demonstrates excellent behavior inside and outside the classroom. She has been polite and respectful toward her peers and staff. She is [...]

Hamden couldn’t be more excited to welcome Ms. Searles to the team this school year as she begins her Special Education teaching career! Ms. Searles took over the role of our K-3 classroom teacher and has worked quickly to build positive relationships with each and every one of our students. From her classroom décor to her detailed and creative lesson plans, she has created a nurturing, positive environment where students feel supported and safe. Ms. Searles is constantly finding new ways to motivate her students, from cute and colorful stamps on their work to innovative hands-on science projects. Her dedication [...]

Jordana Fowlin has worked in the education field for a number of years and began her career in Social Work as a school Social Worker in 2018 at High Road School of Wallingford Primary/Middle, before joining the Hamden team at Dunbar Hill School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Fordham University in New York. Ms. Fowlin will be returning to school in the fall to pursue a degree in Educational Leadership at Sacred Heart University. Since joining the Hamden team, Ms. Fowlin has taken on many roles within the classroom and the greater [...]