Talbot Hill Elementary Hosts National MicroSociety Conference

Talbot Hill Elementary School recently played host to the national MicroSociety conference. Teachers and school staff from all over the U.S. took part in the annual event designed to sharpen the skills and understanding of the MicroSociety teaching model.

About the MicroSociety Program

The MicroSociety program is a student-based school reform effort. This research-based education program transforms classrooms by providing a real-world context for academic learning. Students collaborate with parents, business volunteers, and teachers to create functioning small communities. The MicroSociety model can be taught in an individual class, a small learning community, a whole grade, or an entire school. Traditional academic subjects are studied in the morning, then applied "on the job" during afternoon program activities. Students spend one hour or one class period each day in their jobs where they learn to run businesses, apply technology, develop government and social agencies, and create cultural and arts organizations. Gradually, students become immersed in the realities of a free-market economy, with taxes, property concerns, income issues, and politics. MicroSociety enables teachers to answer two persistent questions students ask: "Why do I need to know this?" and "How do I fit in?"

Visit Talbot Hill's website to learn more about the MicroSociety program in the school.