Our mission is to utilize the natural resources, history, arts, and civic stewardship of the community as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, art, and other curriculum subjects. River Grove’s place-based learning environments are student-centered, designed by teachers, and reinforced and supported by the local community.
But perhaps you wonder, “What does this mean?”
A Place Where Children Thrive
At River Grove, teachers know best! Decisions are made by the people who are directly working with the kids every day.
Teacher-Powered Philosophy: At River Grove, teachers are responsible for the learning program and have the autonomy to develop curriculum and evaluation strategies to meet their students’ needs. Teachers work in teams that integrate classroom lessons with art, music, physical education, and even field trips and teach in partnership with special education instructors and our licensed school counselor.
Going Beyond the Classroom
At River Grove, students spend at least half of their day outdoors and frequently visit local destinations in Washington County and the St. Croix River watershed.
Place-Based Education:
- Gets students out of classrooms, turning communities into settings for reading and writing, math, science, art, music, and other subjects
- Energizes educators and students
- Bonds students, teachers, parents, and the community, creating a sense of belonging
- Brings learning home, personalizing it and making it relevant
Learning by Doing
At River Grove, students learn through doing, with hands-on lessons and multidisciplinary projects that promote collaboration and creative thinking. Studies show that project-based learning is linked to significant improvements in student test scores, attendance and classroom engagement.
- Problem solving skills
- In-depth understanding
- Self-confidence
- Critical thinking
- Perseverance
- Project management skills
- Curiosity