In alignment with the Challenge Success philosophy, Dawson provides students and families with information and strategies to create a more balanced and academically fulfilling life for kids. We partner with families to help children strengthen their sense of self, increase their motivation and critical-thinking skills, and learn how to effectively deal with life’s inevitable challenges. 

 

This fall, we had the distinct privilege of welcoming Dr. Denise Pope, co-founder of Challenge Success and senior lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education, to campus to meet with families, faculty, and students. During the Parent University presentation, Dr. Pope explained the guiding principles of the “developing the whole child” approach and how Dawson applies the Challenge Success SPACE Framework to create a student-centered learning environment. She also shared the results of a recent Dawson student data collection and how parents can partner with the school community in support of creating the foundation that is necessary for children to grow into well-rounded, healthy individuals.

Dawson’s robust literacy program nurtures a love of reading and writing through an integrated, relevant curriculum aligned with The Science of Reading research and Being a Reader and Being a Writer programs. We know using a common scope and sequence for phonics and high-frequency word instruction is beneficial for our students as they advance in their Dawson journey. The continuity of the routines, instructional practices, and consistent and concise language across grade levels is a strength of our program. And we are proud that it reflects what the research says kids need in order to become capable readers and writers.