Elementary Program

Each day students in the K-6 program will start their day with the class meeting. The purpose of the class meeting is to build strong relationships between classmates, with teachers, and create a classroom community focused on trust, social-emotional wellness, and developing strong connections. Learn more about morning meetings. 

Whole group Language Arts integrates reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Instruction consists of reading comprehension, vocabulary, foundational skills, phonics/word study, grammar, and writing instruction in a whole class setting with access to a wide range of grade level texts.

Language Arts small group instruction allows students to receive instruction based on their individual literacy needs. Students receive instruction on grade level standards, unfinished learning or are exposed to standards above grade level based on observation and data collected by the teacher during whole group instruction.

Introduction to the core daily lesson with the entire class present. This is also an opportunity for the teacher to provide feedback to students prior to the daily small group instruction. The teacher may also break students into smaller groups during this time to discuss the daily lesson.

Teachers meet with students in groups of approximately 4-8 students to provide more individualized instruction and meet specific student needs. In the small group, students often will be presented with extension challenge problems based on their level of performance. Students will be expected to ask and answer questions about the daily lesson. The small group lesson occurs daily.

Science follows the Next Generation Science Standards and uses curriculum from the FOSS Development Team at UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science. Each grade level includes three units that cover Earth, Life and Physical Science. Students learn with at-home experiments, demonstrations, and virtual activities.

Social Studies follows Iowa Standards and uses curriculum from InquirEd. Grades K-4 complete three units and grades 5/6 complete four units that develop the skills and build the content knowledge students need to succeed.

Health concepts can be taught in a stand alone fashion or infused into certain science, physical education and counseling classes.

Students will engage in artistic processes common to all areas of fine arts: performing or producing, creating, responding, and connecting. The primary mode of instruction is live and class time focuses on collaboration with the teacher and peers, while engaging with various forms of art, music, movement, and literature.

• Art - The growth and development of every student in the District is enriched by Visual Arts Education. Art is a universal language that cultivates originality, self-expression, and discovery. Art appreciation and production support and encourage 21st century skills including critical thinking, creative problem solving, collaboration, and communication. The visual arts are an integral part of the core curriculum.
• Counseling - Professional School Counselors provide weekly lessons focused on social-emotional behavioral awareness, skill-building, and well-being. Lessons address a variety of areas including but not limited to: Skills for learning, empathy and perspective-taking, emotion management, safety, respectful and safe use of technology, relationships with peers, and responding to bullying and harassment.
• Music - The music curriculum focuses on the child’s development of four areas related to music: active music making, music cognition, cultural connections and social-emotional development. Lessons are live and include singing, moving, listening, creating, and interacting & collaborating with peers, all while developing understanding of musical concepts.
• PE - Students move to learn and learn to move. The program is divided into three broad learning areas: fitness/wellness, basic movement skills and concepts, and movement forms. A range of activities help prepare students for success. Lessons are taught live with a focus on movement through locomotor movements, eye-hand coordination, rhythms, and simple movement. Asynchronous lessons will also be provided to allow for independent practice.
• Library - The library curriculum focuses on teaching students to think critically and independently to construct new understanding and insights from various information sources. Weekly library lessons provide experiences in topics that include literature exploration, book selection, using library resources, digital citizenship, technology, and research skills. Students learn how to navigate their ever-changing world through many forms of print and digital media. They are given access to rich, diverse book collections that encourage students to become lifelong readers.

Students may be assigned additional synchronous time for various reasons (ie, math/reading intervention, English Language Learner (ELL), Extended Learning Program (ELP)). When students are not assigned to synchronous learning, they will be provided with expectations for independent learning from their teachers. Students are expected to complete all assigned asynchronous activities in a timely manner and are given flexible learning time to work on these tasks.