Thoughts from the Chatsworth Primary Hallways

Dear Parents,

Welcome to another school year at Chatsworth International School.

My name is Michael Berry and I am the (new) Head of Primary.  Although I was born and raised in the United States, I have not lived there for more that 2 decades.  In that time I have taught and served as an administrator in Mexico, Costa Rica and in the Middle East in Oman.  

After graduating High School I attended Longwood College in Virginia where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education grades 4-8.  I also attended extra classes enabling me to earn a Reading Certificate allowing me to teach Reading / English in grades K-12.  Later at Longwood, I earned my Master’s degree as a Reading Specialist.  In February 2016 I successfully defended my Doctoral dissertation at Wilkes University in the United States.

For me, teaching is more than transferring content knowledge to students.  Rather, I believe that it is paramount for educators to take responsibility for teaching the whole child, enabling them to become knowledgeable and compassionate human beings.  This is an ideal that I have held dearly since teacher’s college.  I also knew early in my career the importance of connecting with children.  

At the same time, I acknowledge that students today learn differently than those before them.  As children and their learning styles change with modern society, so must the methods educators use to teach evolve and change, as well.  For example, there should be more focus on skill development and transfer of knowledge, rather than teaching for rote memorization.  I believe the best way to accomplish this is by scaffolding learning, constructing meaning, and cultivating an environment where children can seek answers while thinking critically and creatively.

The mission statement at Chatsworth recognizes the importance of teaching the whole child and sculpting them to be caring individuals with a global perspective and responsibility.  Academics are merely one aspect of education.  As a father and educator, I firmly believe that teachers, along with the student and the parents, work together in triangular collaborative relationship always keeping the student’s best interest in mind.  It is this important and interconnected relationship that enhances the development of children academically, socially, and emotionally.  As such, one of the hallmarks for Chatsworth is the pride we feel as our students demonstrate compassion and caring for others.

I believe in the power of inquiry teaching as educators seek to develop skills that will prepare our students for the 21st century.  Students must be empowered with critical thinking, communication, social awareness, research and self-management skills, all of which are taught contextually in an interdisciplinary manner.  In this way, students understand that the skills learned are not isolated within one discipline, but rather they recognize that these skills can be transferred to a multitude of situations beyond the school environment.  Teachers must also use technology effectively to promote contextual learning and engage students in meaningful ways.  For this to be successful, substantial technology integration combined with an interdisciplinary approach is vital.  As an administrator, I strive to find creative solutions that enable our specialist and classroom teachers to collaborate and identify ways for interdisciplinary connections across the curriculum.  Drawing from these connections can help students not only retain meaningful information as they assimilate the interconnected ideas rather than isolated skills, but also gain broader understandings of topics for future use in creative ways.  

As my role as an educator has evolved, so has my philosophy of education. Consistent throughout the years, however, is my firm belief that teaching is a relationship between educators, families, and students that is centered on creating meaningful experiences for children.  Learning is an active and engaging process whereby children construct and manipulate learning, rather than sit passively merely receiving information.  The goal of an educator, regardless of content area, should be to instill a curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning so that a passion for the pursuit of new knowledge transcends the walls of any classroom.  Teaching in the 21st century must encourage growth, compassion, critical thinking, creativity, innovation, collaboration, communication, cross-cultural global awareness, technology fluency, and problem solving.  As educators, we should recognize and act upon the resounding need to develop the powers of thinking in every student.  Essential to the educational process is the cultivation of the maximum human potential of all students in such a way that equally promotes both competence and conscience.  The best education will produce individuals with a genuine concern for themselves and others, in addition to an awareness that lifelong learning is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Dr Michael Berry Head of Primary