Streamlined Moderne was one term used to describe the style in which this school was fashioned. Designed by well known local architect Fred Willson, the Irving School was funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), with construction taking place in 1939. This was one of a trio of elementary schools - Irving, Longfellow and Hawthorne - designed by Willson in the typical streamlined Art Deco style of the day. Today the school serves 295 students in grades pre kindergarten to 5.
Apparently a fairly progressive school, in recent years it adopted a novel program, named
, the aim of which was to accelerate learning among students. Details follow.
Bozeman’s Irving School tries new schedule
to help kids make gains
GAIL SCHONTZLER, Chronicle Staff Writer | Oct 23, 2013
Kids at Bozeman’s Irving School are learning well, but teachers are trying a new scheduling idea to help more students succeed.
Principal Adrian Advincula explained the innovation to Bozeman School Board trustees Tuesday during their annual lunch visit to the school on South Eighth Avenue. It has about 286 students this year.
The new schedule is called “the fourth special,” a 45-minute block of time that’s set aside four times a week, when five teachers will team up to give an entire class intensive instruction in key skills of reading and math.
The name is taken from the other three “specials” — health enhancement, library and music lessons — that are already on the weekly schedule.
Instead of “pulling out” of class a handful of struggling kids to give them extra help, all five teachers “push in” to the classroom and work with all students in small groups, explained third-grade teachers Sara Filipowicz and Sarah Barefield.
Joining the two regular classroom teachers are Irving’s intervention teacher, a special education resource teacher and a paraprofessional teacher.
“This doesn’t single students out” as needing help, Filipowicz said. “We absolutely love it.”
The kids love it, too, she said, explaining that they get to work together more, talk about how to solve math word problems and feel more “ownership.”
It’s intended to help not only kids who are struggling, but also those working at grade level and the more advanced “high-flyers,” Advincula said.
Read on at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle