Lower School
If not for life, then what are we learning for? Aspen Academy looks at learning as a way to ignite the personal passions and interests of each and every student - whoever you are, whatever you love, or wherever you want to go.With a highly differentiated, individualized, and data driven approach, we are able to zone in on what each student uniquely needs with regard to their performance levels, personal interests, learning styles, and strengths. Students are held to high expectations and our core academic curriculum reflects a clear commitment to the essential building blocks of child development in language, mathematics, social studies, science, the arts, fitness, and character and leadership. From PreKindergarten through 8th Grade, we provide exceptional training in fundamental skills and analytical thinking, while encouraging independence of mind, intellectual curiosity, and creative growth.
LETTER FROM LOWEr SCHOOL DIRECTOR
It is with great honor and enthusiasm that I welcome you to our Lower School community! Success begins with an extraordinary foundation in the elementary years encompassing next-generation education, depth of personal character and leadership, and cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit that thoughts are things. Individuals are their most creative at the age of five years old and in the Lower School we harness that creative spirit and guide our students to pursue academic excellence with passion and intent.
The partnership that exists between our extraordinary staff, families, and students ensures that we are collectively rising to our core values to be kind, do good, work hard and make the world better. It is the driving force behind our successful community strength and service program. With an open heart, I welcome you to our family and encourage you to reach out for more information.
- DANA KOHLS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIRECTOR
LOWER SCHOOL ACADEMICS
MATH
Aspen Academy’s Lower School mathematics program enables children to:
- Discover concepts
- Develop an intuitive feeling for mathematics
- Apply established math skills and reasoning to problem solving
Concepts are taught using concrete materials alongside corresponding algorithms. Pictorial representations provide visual images for computation, and the use of manipulative materials helps children to bridge the gap between the concrete and abstract.
Singapore Mathematics is used as our foundational-level curriculum. After being immersed and then graduating from this program, students are typically performing two to three grade levels ahead of the standard American student
Language Arts
Student choice and ownership are at the forefront of our language arts curriculum. At Aspen Academy, all of our language arts teacher prides themselves on tapping into the personal interests and learning styles of each and every one of their students. The workshop model, which consists of a short, whole-group lesson and extended time for differentiated-partner, small group and individual learning time, allows for each student to reach his or her full potential. Providing choice for both reading and writing creates an authentic learning environment full of passion and excitement in each language arts classroom. These choices provide an opportunity for critical thinking, self-reflection and decision-making unmatched among other programs in the nation.
Social Studies
The world is changing faster than we realize, and preparing our students for a world that is global, dynamic and complex will not look the way it used to. Our Social Studies program doesn’t just teach history; we pride ourselves on an approach of learning about the world through history, geography, economics and civics. We focus on studying our world not just in a textbook and the classroom, but in context so that our students can go out into the world to apply the lessons, critical thinking and passion to the greater society.
Science
After an extensive teacher-led research process, Aspen Academy has adopted the latest, most innovative and relevant standards in the nation. The Next Generation Science Standards are used from grades K-8, making Aspen Academy one of the only schools in the area to use these cutting-edge standards school-wide.
Essentials
Our Essentials Program offers performance-based courses that continue to build leadership, confidence and pride for each student. We realize world language, performing arts, visual arts, technology and fitness, along with the academic content classes, create a space for students to grow and learn in all areas of their school life as well as discover their individual passions and gifts.
Accreditations
