HOT Schools
Established in 1994, the Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools program works with select Connecticut schools to promote teaching and learning in, about, and through the arts in a democratic setting. The core components of an effective HOT school are as follows:
Strong Arts In HOT schools, the arts are rigorous academic subjects, each with its own sequential curriculum conveying knowledge not learned through other academic disciplines.
Arts Integration HOT schools integrate the arts across disciplines, creating arts-rich environments that motivate students to make connections between and among subject areas and ideas.
Democratic Practice HOT schools cultivate a democratic school culture which emphasizes individual leadership and to which all members of the school community contribute.
HOT Approach at SSES
With their heartfelt support of the arts and generosity, the Easton PTA has funded our membership to the HOT Schools organization since 1994. Our membership offers many wonderful benefits to our school, including professional development, HOT Schools Summer Institute, mini-institutes, peer days, and a ten-day teaching artist.
At Samuel Staples, teachers integrate the arts into their instructional planning, creating rich environments that enhance and reinforce the power of the arts in learning. Students express themselves through movement, music, visual arts, creative writing, theater and technology. Teachers use the arts to help students understand concepts and skills across disciplines and often collaborate with colleagues to create meaningful learning opportunities for their students.
Students take pride in their work and are often eager to share what they learned at SSES Town Meetings. A town meeting is a school-wide assembly which provides an audience for our students to celebrate their successes. Town meetings are the direct result of our involvement in the HOT Schools program.
Each month, students and staff in K-2 and in Grades 3-5 come together to showcase what they have learned using the arts as their vehicle for learning. Students gain an understanding about the different ways of learning that is happening in our school, and at the same time, practice the four Respectful Agreements our school practices: attentive listening, appreciation, the right to pass, and mutual respect.
HOT Schools Publications
HOT Schools Brochure
HOT Schools Newsletters
Spring 2013-Issue 01
Summer 2013-Issue 02
Fall 2013-Issue 03
Spring 2014- Issue 04
Summer 2014-Issue 05
Established in 1994, the Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools program works with select Connecticut schools to promote teaching and learning in, about, and through the arts in a democratic setting. The core components of an effective HOT school are as follows:
Strong Arts In HOT schools, the arts are rigorous academic subjects, each with its own sequential curriculum conveying knowledge not learned through other academic disciplines.
Arts Integration HOT schools integrate the arts across disciplines, creating arts-rich environments that motivate students to make connections between and among subject areas and ideas.
Democratic Practice HOT schools cultivate a democratic school culture which emphasizes individual leadership and to which all members of the school community contribute.
HOT Approach at SSES
With their heartfelt support of the arts and generosity, the Easton PTA has funded our membership to the HOT Schools organization since 1994. Our membership offers many wonderful benefits to our school, including professional development, HOT Schools Summer Institute, mini-institutes, peer days, and a ten-day teaching artist.
At Samuel Staples, teachers integrate the arts into their instructional planning, creating rich environments that enhance and reinforce the power of the arts in learning. Students express themselves through movement, music, visual arts, creative writing, theater and technology. Teachers use the arts to help students understand concepts and skills across disciplines and often collaborate with colleagues to create meaningful learning opportunities for their students.
Students take pride in their work and are often eager to share what they learned at SSES Town Meetings. A town meeting is a school-wide assembly which provides an audience for our students to celebrate their successes. Town meetings are the direct result of our involvement in the HOT Schools program.
Each month, students and staff in K-2 and in Grades 3-5 come together to showcase what they have learned using the arts as their vehicle for learning. Students gain an understanding about the different ways of learning that is happening in our school, and at the same time, practice the four Respectful Agreements our school practices: attentive listening, appreciation, the right to pass, and mutual respect.
HOT Schools Publications
HOT Schools Brochure
HOT Schools Newsletters
Spring 2013-Issue 01
Summer 2013-Issue 02
Fall 2013-Issue 03
Spring 2014- Issue 04
Summer 2014-Issue 05