In the bustling landscape of education, where the quest for innovation often dominates conversations, it's easy to overlook the value of low-cost strategies that can increase student engagement, achievement, connection, and happiness. In our 14 years of teaching and learning with teens in Cobscook Experiential Programs, we’ve come to recognize the profound impact of relational education, recognizing it as a cornerstone of our interdisciplinary, place-based high school program.
A recent article in the New York Times by Adam Grant, "What Most Schools Do Wrong," Oct. 2023 shed light on this crucial aspect of education: the significance of continuity and long-term relationships between students and teachers. The article delved into the power of having the same teacher for more than one year, highlighting the positive outcomes such as increased trust, deeper understanding, and enhanced academic performance. According to Grant, “With more time to get to know each student personally, teachers gain a deeper grasp of the kids’ strengths and challenges. The teachers have more opportunities to tailor their instructional and emotional support to help all the students in the class reach their potential. They’re able to identify growth not only in peaks reached but also in obstacles overcome. The nuanced knowledge they acquire about each student isn’t lost in the handoff to the next year’s teacher.”
This is what happens naturally at Cobscook Experiential Programs. As a smaller, multi-grade learning community, students stay in relationships with the same teachers over multiple years. Through this relational approach, we cultivate a sense of trust and familiarity that lays the groundwork for meaningful engagement and collaboration. This continuity enables teachers to gain deeper insights into each student's strengths, challenges, and aspirations, allowing for tailored support and personalized learning experiences.
Moreover, the enduring relationships forged within our programs extend beyond the academic realm. Students and teachers travel together, play together, and learn together. As Daisy Jones, CEP 2023 graduate reflected in her opening letter for this edition of Currents, “In the four years of school, Cobscook became a home away from home for me. I went on adventures, learned life skills, and got to explore options for my future.” Students not only learn from their teachers but also alongside them as mentors, allies, and partners in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. In this way, we model the value and joy of lifelong learning.
We invite you to witness the transformative power firsthand at Cobscook Institute. If you're a community member with skills or experiences to share that may support a high school curriculum, please reach out. We also invite you to be a student again and sign up for a class at Cobscook, where relational teaching and learning is modeled throughout our programs.
