WonderHere Polk County
Wonder Is Coming to Polk County
At WonderHere, we believe every child arrives already full of ideas, curiosity, and the desire to make sense of the world. Through a new partnership with Polk County Public Schools, we’re bringing the research-based WonderHere Method to Philip O’Brien Elementary, right inside your neighborhood public school.
Students in this K–1st pilot receive their entire schooling through the WonderHere Method, moving through rhythms of Wonder, Research, Create, Revise, and Share. It’s hands-on, joyful, standards-aligned learning that helps children think critically, solve real problems, and treats them as the capable, creative thinkers they already are.
With a dedicated on-site facilitator guiding both students and teachers, children spend real time investigating questions that matter to them and building projects they’re proud to show off. Families are part of the journey too, gathering each quarter for Portfolio Nights to see how far their students have grown.
This is a rare, no-cost opportunity to give your family a front-row seat to a bold new model of education built on creativity, collaboration, and real-world learning. Spots are limited, and we’re inviting a diverse group of K–1st families to help shape something special from the very beginning. If you want an education that honors your child’s wonder and prepares them for a fast-changing world, we’d love for you to apply and grow with us.
FAQ's
What is WonderHere?
WonderHere is a project-based learning model that partners with parents and empowers children to discover the joy in meaningful learning. It restores the human elements of education through four pillars: project-based curriculum, personalized learning, holistic progress monitoring, and strong parent engagement.
Where will the program take place?
Right at Philip O’Brien Elementary. Students stay on the same campus, attend the same specials classes (art, PE, music), have lunch in the same place for the same amount of time, and follow the same uniform requirements.
How is my child assessed without grades?
Growth is monitored in many ways: narratives, benchmark checklists, instructor anecdotal notes, quarterly parent partnership meetings, pre/post benchmark assessments, and a portfolio of authentic work shared at Portfolio Nights. Optional, low-stakes STAR Reading assessments may also be used. The goal is to measure academic, social, emotional, and creative growth, not to rank children.
Is there homework or testing?
No homework and no traditional testing. Only low-stakes STAR testing is used, and progress is tracked mainly through observation and authentic work.
What is the Wonder Studio?
It’s a dedicated space where curiosity gets to get messy. Children have access to high-quality art supplies, 3-D printers, cardboard cutters, loose parts, a light table, recyclables, reference materials, and display and storage tech to bring their ideas to life.
Who is responsible for what?
The child wonders, explores, creates, and grows. The parent partners and engages. The instructor observes, documents, personalizes, and communicates. WonderHere designs, trains, facilitates, and supports. Polk County Schools funds, collaborates, and invites innovation that puts students first.
Which grades is the pilot for?
The pilot is a blended Kindergarten and 1st grade classroom with a small 1:12 instructor-to-student ratio, giving every child personalized attention.
What makes this classroom different from a traditional one?
Children learn through one-on-one instruction and personalized work plans that move at their own pace. The day features a gentle introduction to literacy and numeracy, nature-focused outdoor play, flexible seating, and hands-on project time. There are no letter grades, no homework, and minimal paper-and-pencil work. Behavior is guided through a holistic approach.
What does a typical day look like?
A peacefully paced rhythm that includes a two-hour work cycle for language and math (1:1 and small-group lessons), one to two hours of project-based learning and project time, an hour of novel study and read-aloud with discussion, one to two hours of unstructured play woven through the day, and an afternoon of enrichment.
What is expected of me as a parent?
Parents are true partners. Involvement includes quarterly instructor meetings, quarterly attendance at Portfolio Night, attending parent workshops, and observing your child in the classroom twice per year during the school day. These expectations are agreed upon during enrollment as a core value of the program.
Since this is a pilot, what should we expect?
Families are helping shape something brand new. You can expect regular communication, chances to give feedback, and a strong voice in the process. Some routines may evolve during the year as we learn what works best for students. Because this is an innovative model, educators, leaders, media, or guests may occasionally visit to observe and learn from the classroom.
What outcomes can we expect?
Increased parent engagement, creative student problem-solving, authentic application of knowledge, stronger retention and transfer of learning, and real-world competence.