Quaker Hill Grant Goes to Mr. Bezaire
by Jeff Greenfield
This year's Quaker Hill recipient is seventh grade math teacher Joel Bezaire. The Quaker Hill grant allows one or two USN teachers to pursue studies or special projects in the summer.
This year's Quaker Hill recipient is seventh grade math teacher Joel Bezaire. The Quaker Hill grant allows one or two USN teachers to pursue studies or special projects in the summer.
Joel's project will be designing innovative math curricula intended to enrich math learning for the most capable learners in the courses which immediately precede seventh grade, the first year where an advanced section of each math course is offered. Research and our own experience as a school have taught us that only in very rare cases does it serve a talented math student best to skip a grade and accelerate vertically. Rather, in the middle school years, what's most important is to provide challenging and interesting applications that require more abstract reasoning and creative problem-solving yet stay on topic.
What's more, Joel's goal is to make these extensions hands-on and project-based, closely tied to each unit of study throughout the year. It's a very tall order indeed: one doesn't have to look far to find piles of workbooks filled with challenging math exercises, many even extensions of the routine problems assigned to all. However, it's challenge work of a different order--and, Joel believes, more interesting and meaningful--to create extensions that apply one's understanding of math to real-world situations in original and creative ways.
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List of 3 news stories.
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MS Quiz Bowl team heads to national championships
The Quiz Bowl team traveled to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to face several top teams from across the country at this year's South Warren Tournament. USN's second-place finish earned the team an invitation to the National Academic Quiz Tournaments' National Championships in May.Read More -
Alumni return to share insights with students
Read MoreIn an inspiring new initiative, USN's health care career spotlight, organized by Ruchika Ramachandran ’27 and Yvonne Wang ’27, brought a wealth of alumni back to the school for an evening of shared expertise and personal stories. This first-of-its-kind event was a great example of the power of connection, mentorship, and community evident throughout the USN community. -
Band students meet composer Larry Clark
Ahead of the All Bands Winter Concert, students got to play for Larry Clark, the composer who arranged the holiday medley that the band will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 9 in Durnan Auditorium.Read More
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2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.