Reading/Writing: Our literacy curriculum incorporates authentic, high quality literature into each lesson, focusing on small group learning, writing for multiple purposes, collaboration, reading at individual levels, independent reading in all grades and phonics instruction in the lower grades.
Our 1st– 3rd grade teachers work with our reading support staff to provide a Walk-to-Read model where readers are learning skills with children who need to learn the same skills. The children are regularly progress monitored to determine their fit for the group they are assigned. Staff members make responsive changes based on students’ challenges and growth. When academic gains or needs are determined, children move to other groups where their current skills are being taught. Walk-to-Read specifically helps to instill a love of reading. This instructional support extends into all forms of communication and comprehension including speaking and writing clearly. Also, a solid home support that dovetails with our reading curriculum and interventions is offered for struggling readers.
We use Collaborative Literacy K-5 as our core curriculum, including vocabulary instruction, skills, comprehension and writing. This resource provides a progression of skills through the grades beginning in kindergarten, while incorporating collaborative practices and team building. Our reading and writing resources are augmented with a variety of choice literature to provide the instruction that is needed for each type of learner.
Math: We use Bridges math curriculum, guiding students to gain a strong understanding of number relationships and patterns prior to learning standard algorithms. A major component of our math instruction includes student discourse where evidence for problem solving is shared and discussed. Students learn content within a module and unit framework during their main lesson. They review previous concepts regularly during a short calendar embedded lesson called Number Corner and number talks, where students share their problem solving strategies.
Science: We created a K-5 science curriculum to compliment our thematic units. Children learn through hands-on investigations and exploring scientific phenomena, including incorporating our surrounding forest, nearby pond, and the school garden. Our science aligns with the innovative Next Generation Science and guides students to deepen their understanding of the natural world. We have a part time environmental science coordinator, bringing students into our forest and garden and supporting our science units. Our kindergarten students have an extended time in our forest once a week, with the support of our parents and volunteers.
Social Studies: Each instructional level team has developed thematic, project-based learning opportunities for cultural studies. Teachers utilize these studies to further develop students’ comprehension skills and writing. Multiage classes align closely with the project studies in first, second and third grades. Some of the units include: First grade China and Intertidal zones; Second grade Native Americans and owls; Third grade Action Network and our forest; Fourth grade Washington State and Birding; Fifth grade Early United States.
Technology: Classrooms use Chromebook sets to teach keyboarding skills beginning in third grade and dive deeply into writing and research skills. Some math extension, writing and support activities are also available through our technology devices.
Art: Students attend art class weekly. They learn about the elements of art, genres, and study particular artists’ styles. Our art teacher uses a variety of techniques to teach drawing, painting, sculpting and paper art. Thanks to the Artists in Schools grant opportunity some grade levels work with island artists to learn skills through well-developed projects taught by the guest artist and supported by our art teacher.
Music: Students attend music class weekly. Teaching methods include visual, kinesthetic and aural modalities. Children learn to recognize and use a variety of musical elements such as rhythm, melody, harmony, form and timbre. They play instruments (drums, rhythm, barred instruments, keyboard), dance and sing as they explore a range of musical genre.
Physical Education & Health: The focus of these classes is to help our students develop skills and interests in healthy activity and to understand how their body works in order to take care of it. They learn a variety of games and stay health and active, exercising both in our gym and outside.
Library: Our students visit the library weekly, learning research skills and participating in culturally diverse author studies.
Spanish: We have Spanish classes with a specialist teacher and through our Spanish Intern program. Students are exposed to learning another language develop their understanding our our greater world. Our interns from Spain and Latin America live with local families. They support our native Spanish speaking students with primary language support, teach Spanish and provide math and reading support to increase our understanding of our greater world.
Fourth and Fifth Grade Clubs: On Thursday mornings when we don’t have a late start our fourth and fifth graders have an hour of clubs. Our specialist teachers lead a variety of clubs that change throughout the year and our students can choose a club that interests them. Some examples are choir, garden, building, tinkering, fitness, running club, knitting, games, family history, foreign language, theater, and coding. It gives students the chance to explore a new interest and mix with students from different classes. Clubs occur during the school day.
Fifth Grade Experiences: Our fifth graders engage in a robotics unit annually. They also attend an environmental camp in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains every year. At Waskowitz Outdoor School they learn about the environmental connections between plants, animals, soil, and water, with a field study session at a nearby watershed. Habitats and ecosystems are an integral part of this experience, along with making choices that preserve and protect the environment. A social benefit of meeting new friends from other NW Washington schools and nurturing independence and self-reliance are a bonus in rounding out this environmental experience.
