LANGUAGE
In the classrooms of our youngest students, language-rich environments allow children to grow in their capacity for verbal expression, listening, and early literacy skills as they read books, sing songs, play games, and participate in activities designed to support developing comprehension and critical thinking skills. Students learn the essential components of reading and writing through word play, rhyming, singing, making lists, and learning letters, sounds, and syllables.
The Handwriting Without Tears curriculum helps build a strong writing foundation as students practice pencil grip and learn proper letter formation. To reinforce these skills, children write their names, label pictures, make signs and charts, write simple books, create stories, and even compose their own poems. Children study various authors and modes of written communication such as poetry and folktales, and learn to identify the main characters, setting, and sequencing of stories.
MATH
The math program focuses on developing an understanding of mathematical concepts including patterning, ordering, sorting, classifying, graphing, measuring, counting, tallying, and number sense. We know that mathematics learning is active, therefore, children are encouraged to explore and represent ideas, discover relationships, ask questions, study patterns, and support their answers.
Emphasis is placed upon the interrelationships among numbers and numeration, operations and computation, data and chance, geometry (2-D and 3-D figures), measurement (time, money, distance), and algebraic thinking. Teachers implement a wide variety of teaching strategies, allowing each student to develop strong number sense and learn to apply mathematical concepts to solve authentic problems.
SCIENCE, INNOVATION, AND INQUIRY LABS
Children are naturally curious; this quickly becomes evident as one observes them interact with the world around them. Our youngest students learn about science by doing science. Hands-on activities, carefully crafted experiments, and regular visits to our science lab expose students to the scientific process of hypothesizing, classifying, comparing, making predictions, observing and drawing conclusions.
Many of these concepts carry over into the Innovation Lab where students explore concepts of engineering, programming, robotics, and STEM skills through hands-on activities and experiential methods.
The Inquiry Lab is designed to stimulate curiosity and drive learning through inquiry and observation. Active explorations, interactions, and discussions with peers and adults guide our young children in their pursuit of knowledge. Children learn to determine answers to questions, which are naturally derived from curiosity and their everyday experiences.
Technology is naturally embedded into many activities in the science, innovation, and inquiry labs, as well as in their classrooms every day. The labs lend themselves to guided and authentic discovery, building each student's interest in the evolving world in which we live.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Integrated thematic unites with overarching essential questions provide a framework for learning. Social studies provides an opportunity for students to learn about themselves and how they fit into the larger community. Teachers help students recognize and appreciate similarities and differences among themselves as individuals, the communities in which they live, and a variety of cultures throughout the world. Thematic units also highlight celebrations that take place throughout the year and in a variety of cultures.
ART APPRECIATION
In addition to our specials rotation that is inclusive of art classes, children participate in a classroom-based art appreciation program that consists of a combination of thematic-based activities and introductions to great artists. Throughout the year, children explore a variety of art concepts and techniques through open-ended and hands-on art experiences.
Exposure to renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Georgie O'Keeffe, and Michaelangelo provide children with a basic cognitive foundation in art and history and an awareness of artistic vocabulary including lines, shapes, colors, form, texture, and composition.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
A cornerstone of our school that truly sets us apart is our commitment to character development. Activities are designed to develop children's self-esteem, enhance their self-concept, and foster positive feelings toward learning, as well as acceptance of others. Cooperation, integrity, determination, responsibility and respect are some of the principles we value as a school community and that we promote in character education lessons and community meetings.
Play inside and outside of the classroom provides opportunities for children to interact socially with one another, solve problems, and resolve conflict. Our school provides a safe and nurturing environment where children grow self-confidence and develop the social skills necessary to build positive friendships and become good citizens.
