| Reading/Language Arts |
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Reading and Language Arts are taught through a balanced literacy program incorporating four main components of instruction: Phonics/Spelling, Guided Reading, Self-selected Reading, and Writing/Grammar.
- Phonics/Spelling: During Phonics/Spelling instruction, children learn English phonograms and how they come together to spell words. Students learn sight words as well as word patterns that allow them to decode and spell numerous other words.
- Guided Reading: The purpose of Guided Reading is to expose students to a wide range of literature, to help students develop reading fluency, to teach comprehension strategies and vocabulary, and to help students read material that becomes increasingly more difficult
- Self-Selected Reading: During Self-Selected Reading, children choose what they want to read and to which parts of their reading they want to respond. The Accelerated Reader program encourages independent reading and rewards students as they advance their reading skills.
- Writing: Writing is an integral part of the curriculum and is taught primarily through journal writing, writing workshop, and writing across the curriculum. Journal Writing occurs at all grade levels, beginning in PreK3. Writing Workshop teaches students about the process of writing — pre-writing, creating a rough draft, editing, and publishing — and incorporates grammar through the Shurley method, which focuses on understanding grammatical concepts, analyzing sentence structure through classification, and applying knowledge through sentence composition. Writing across the curriculum may include logs, research, letter writing, newsletter writing, and similar projects.
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| Math |
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Learning mathematics is an active endeavor. Children experience mathematics as problem-solving. Children grow to understand that math is about reasoning: making conjectures about why something is the way it is and then checking out those conjectures; thinking for oneself rather than simply trying to determine what the teacher wants. Mathematics is about communication — clarifying one's thinking by talking to classroom peers, by listening to what they have to say, and by finding ways to write down one's experiences and thinking with appropriate mathematical language, diagrams, pictures, graphs, and mathematical symbols. Students work with hands-on manipulatives and real objects to estimate, add, subtract, sort, classify, measure, and more. Instruction progresses through concept, connecting, symbolic, and abstract levels of mathematical understanding.
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| Science & STEM |
| Our inquiry-based approach to science includes learning about specific phenomena — characteristics, classifications, and principles that explain the universe — and the general strategies used to collect and evaluate such information. One goal is to develop children's innate curiosity about the world by allowing them to investigate unfamiliar objects and events, by teaching them respect for all living organisms, and by teaching them appreciation for the beauty, balance, and orderliness of the environment. A second goal is to broaden each child's procedural and thinking skills for investigating the world, solving problems, and making decisions. Lower School students routinely engage in STEM challenges in the Innovation Lab, with coding and robotics as key elements in the curriculum. |
| Social Studies |
| Social studies concern the nature of people and the world, the heritage of the past, and all of contemporary social living. In the early grades, students learn about the world in spatial terms and are introduced to maps and other geographic representations. They also learn about the human family and systems for living, including homes, food, and farming. Children are introduced to the concept that they are citizens of the United States of America and the importance of good citizenship and patriotism. Studies of other cultures around the globe include, but are not limited to, China, Mexico, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan. |
| Bible |
| The study of the Bible is encouraged both formally and informally in the Lower School. Students attend a weekly chapel service centered around a yearly theme from the Bible. Students also study the Bible in class lessons, with daily reading, discussion, and prayer. Students in the early grades focus on God as our Creator and that of the universe. As they advance, students progress through a systematic study of the Bible, which will lead them to discover that God is eager to manifest Himself today in them through Jesus Christ. Our teachers serve as Christian role models and employ an interdisciplinary approach by taking every opportunity to share the Christian perspective as it relates to the day's activities in and out of the classroom. |
| Spanish |
| Lower School Spanish in PreK through 2nd grade focuses primarily on vocabulary acquisition while incorporating hands-on, interactive activities that are developmentally appropriate. Units of study include colors, numbers, shapes, food, animals, and body parts. In 3rd and 4th grade, students increase their knowledge of vocabulary and begin to incorporate grammar into daily lessons. By the end of fourth grade, students are learning verb conjugations, how to translate short paragraphs through simple question and answer activities, and how to formulate short sentences. |
| Music |
| In PreK through 1st grade, the goal of the music program is to introduce students to the basic elements of music through singing, playing of instruments, and moving to songs of different cultures from around the world. The primary focus is to develop musical awareness, begin to distinguish basic form, recognize expressive elements, and learn to match pitch. In 2nd through 4th grade, students develop their understanding of music through singing, chanting, reading rhythms, and individual and group movement. Students play various classroom instruments, and the primary focus shifts to gaining and applying practical knowledge of basic musical theory and proper vocal production. |
| Art |
| In PreK through 1st grade, the goal of the art program is to introduce students to basic art concepts and materials through drawing, painting, clay, collage, and other media. Students are also introduced to aspects of art history. In 2nd through 4th grade, students apply the elements and principles of art to their work, develop strong creative expression, and discuss thoughts on individual and peer artwork. Students are introduced to famous artists and styles and how they have impacted art history. |
| Library/Media |
| The one-to-one laptop program supports the curricular and instructional programs, providing students with access to comprehensive information and media services. Follett software enables students to locate materials, and enables the media specialist to catalog, circulate, and inventory collection materials. The Library/Media Specialist presents story time and technology lessons to students during their enrichment period. Students are also encouraged to participate in the Accelerated Reader Program. |
| Physical Education |
| The goal of the Lower School P.E. program is to provide students with the opportunity to develop body awareness and physical fitness, learn cooperation and teamwork, and understand how to make healthy eating choices. Students participate in games and free play, locomotor activities, and creative movement. They are also taught about food, nutrition, and the importance of an active lifestyle. |
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