1st - 4th Grade

List of 4 items.

• Language Arts

  We use Reader's Workshop, a methodology developed by Lucy Calkins in the Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University. Our curriculum focuses on giving each child an opportunity to read a "just right" book at his/her reading level. During reading time, teachers hold mini conferences with each child. This program fosters a love for reading at a young age while helping students to build confidence as readers.

• Social Studies

  The first grade social studies program focuses on North America with a study of the continent's native peoples, specifically the Coast Miwok, the original inhabitants of Marin County. Students gain a deep understanding of what life was like for the Miwok through studying their stories and literature, exploring the science behind the ecosystem and weather patterns of the area, and taking fieldbtrips to important sites throughout Marin.
  
  Through studies of South America and Africa, second and third grade students learn about the physical and political geography, anthropology and flora and fauna of both continents. Learning to ask critical questions helps students develop a sense of themselves as global citizens while fostering an awareness of their place in the world. Research and presentation skills are practiced and developed within this unit of study.

• Science

  The first grade's science curriculum is driven by three questions: What do seeds, people, and animals need to survive? The curriculum covers topics such as botany, nutrition, vertebrates, invertebrates, recycling, and includes hands-on physical science experiments.
  
  Second and third grade students are guided through science experiments to form hypotheses, predict outcomes, use observation techniques, and record data for self discovery of natural phenomena. The sciences are often integrated into the cultural unit being studied at the time.

• Math

  Teachers use a variety of math materials that support each child's learning needs and styles. The Math In Focus curriculum is a concept-based methodology that moves from visual to pictorial to abstract, and ends with a mastery of skill that encourages deep dives into math concepts. The curriculum complements and enhances our project-based approach to teaching math.