Lower School

We are thrilled to begin this journey with you! Your child will embark upon a very special year of exploration and growth. While Kindergarten children are primarily focused on self, they are
beginning to explore friendships and the world around them. To support the development of the whole child, instruction focuses on cognitive, physical, and social/emotional growth.

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We believe students learn best through natural consequences for their actions.  We grow and learn through making mistakes.

We encourage academic risk- taking and we use these opportunities as teachable moments for students.

We focus on helping our kids develop personal responsibility, self-control, and good decision making skills every day.

Communications & Literacy

• Reading Workshop, Writing Workshop, Orton GIllingham (Phonics) and Grammar
• Mini lesson- guided practice- independent practice
• Book Bags- go home and return every day
• Orton Gillingham is a multi-sensory approach to learning about sounds and words
• Dictation and red words (sight words)
• Grammar- organic and curious approach

Mathematics

• Singapore Math

• Focus on building problem-solving and reasoning skills and an in-depth understanding of essential math skills

Science

• FOSS Kits
• Guides the development of successful active-learning through hands on learning experiences.
• Science notebooks for data, observations, and to develop thinking and communication
• Provides tools and strategies to engage students in experiences that lead to a deeper understanding of the natural and designed worlds.

Social Studies

• My World Interactive
• The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens
• Geography
• Symbols and Traditions of the United States
• Life Today and Long Ago
• One Nation, Many People (culture, traditions, celebrations)
• Work in the Community (economics, needs and wants)

Aspen Leadership Institute Curriculum 

 

Sample Daily Schedule:

*All classes will include cleaning before and after

• 8:25 Arrival
• 8:30-9:00 Leadership
• 9:00-10:10 Math
• 10:10-10:25 Snack/ Recess
• 10:25-11:40 Sci/SS
• 11:40-12:30 Lunch/Recess
• 12:30-1:50 Essentials
• 1:50-3:00 Communication & Literacy
• 3:00 Pack up
• 3:10 Dismissal

In second grade we are curious, brave, and passionate about learning. We hold ourselves accountable in actions and words. We are an open-minded community of innovative learners, leaders, and entrepreneurs, preparing to take our talents into the world to make a positive difference. 

We honor all forms of intelligence by creating an engaging, positive, and encouraging learning environment. We respect and appreciate differences. We come to school excited and prepared each day. We are responsible and take pride in all that we do. We believe in ourselves. We allow ourselves and others to make mistakes and learn from them. When we make a mistake, we see it as an opportunity to grow.

We use our passions, strengths, and curiosity to synergize with others. As global citizens, we recognize how our words and deeds impact our greater world. We thrive in an atmosphere where we all feel comfortable sharing ideas and expressing ourselves.

Communications & Literacy

Orton Gillingham

• Breaks reading and writing into smaller skills with letters and sounds. Focus on a new concept for a week.
• Uses multisensory strategies to teach reading
• No weekly word lists- we will track growth in class
• Red words will be written on their homework page

Reader’s Workshop

• Skill based whole group mini lesson
• Guided Practice
• Practice with reading partner
• Share your learning with the class
• Break into additional learning centers- Buddy reading, read to self, reading games

 Writer’s Workshop

• Skill based whole group mini lesson
• Teacher models
• Conferencing with writing partner
• Independent writing time
• Share/Publishing Party

Mathematics

We meet each student where they are. There will be plenty of enrichment and extended learning!

• Singapore Math
• Math Workshop: Investigation > Whole Group Instruction > Partner Work > Independent Work > Choice Time

• Students will have nightly math homework. It should only take 10-15 minutes. We encourage students to practice nightly math facts. Math tests will go home and will need to be signed and returned the following day.

Science

• Physical Science -Solids and Liquids
• Earth Science - Pebbles, Sand, and Silt
• Life Science - Plants and Insects

Social Studies

• Families Today and in the Past
• People, Places, and Nature
• Government
• People Who Supply Our Goods and Services
• Making a Difference

(Science and Social Studies are taught in alternating 6-week blocks.)

Aspen Leadership Institute Curriculum 

Sample Daily Schedule

• 8:17-8:30 Arrival/Temp check/morning meeting
• 8:30-9:00 Leadership
• 9:00-10:10 Academic Block #1 
• 10:10-10:30 Morning Snack and Recess
• 10:30-11:40 Academic Block #2
• 11:40-12:30 Lunch and Recess
• 12:30-1:50 Essentials
• 1:50-2:55 Academic Block #3 DEAR
• 2:55-3:05 DEAR
• 3:05-3:20 End of Day Routine
• 3:25-Dismissal

Academics include Math, C&L, and Science/Social Studies. The last five minutes of each class is disinfecting.

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.

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Third grade is a big transitional year with a gradual release of independence. Highlights in 3rd Grade:

• Friendship changes
• Conflict resolution
• Personal responsibility
• Big year for cognitive development

Communications & Literacy

Orton Gillingham

• Workshop model: mini-lesson, partner, small group, independent work, learning centers.
• Grammar: Patterns of Power.
• Word Study: Orton Gillingham.
• Cursive: Handwriting Without Tears.
• Nightly reading expectation - At least 20 minutes.
• Weekly grades on Canvas.

Reading

• Mysteries: Foundational Skills
• Reading to Learn
• Character Studies: Book Clubs
• Research Clubs

 Writing

• Crafting True Stories
• The Art of Information Writing
• Once Upon a Time
• Changing the World

Mathematics

• Math workshop model: concrete > pictoral > abstract
• Numbers to 10,000 (including addition and within 10,000)
• Multiplication and multiplication tables
• Fractions
• Area and perimeter
• Graphs and line plots
• Using bar models with all operations
• Measurement
• Time
• Angles, lines, and 2D shapes

Science

• Motion & Water: Students explore magnetism and gravity to learn about forces and interactions. Students engage in the engineering design process.
• Water & Climate: Students explore the properties of water, the water cycle, and weather. Students study the interaction between water and other earth materials and learn how humans use water as a natural resource.
• Structures of Life: Students observe plant and animal structures, functions, and behaviors. Students compare the life cycles of different organisms and care for live plants and animals in the classroom.

Social Studies

• Our Environment and Economics: Students explore how we interact with our planet which includes geography, weather, climate, how we affect animals and plants and resources.  Students will also learn about economics with needs and wants as well as goods and services.
• Communities Build a Nation - Government, Landmarks, and Symbols: Students explore how does our past affect our present by looking at American Exploration and settlement.  Student will explore the Constitution,  and how our three branches of government were created to protect our rights. 
• Citizenship and Civic Engagement - A Growing Nation   Celebrating Our Communities: Students will continue to explore rules and laws, importance of being a good citizen, rights,  and how transportation and immigration changed America.  Students will also celebrate how our communities live, work and play together. 

Aspen Leadership Institute Curriculum 

Sample Daily Schedule

• 8:15-8:30 Arrival
• 8:30-9:00 Leadership
• 9:00-10:20 Essentials (Two 40-minute classes)
• 10:20-11:40 Class 1
• 11:40-12:30 Lunch and Recess
• 12:30-1:50 Class 2
• 1:50-2:00 Recess/Snack
• 2:00-3:20 Class 3
• 3:20-3:25 Clean up and end-of-day jobs
• 3:25-Dismissal

Classes include Math, C&L, and Science/Social Studies and class order rotates 3x throughout the year.

More details coming soon.

 

Aspen Leadership Institute Curriculum 

 

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Learn More

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.

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