Overview by Grade
Kindergarten/First Year (K1)
The reading and writing workshop supports the growth of a wide range of learners during their early years of literacy. Writers’ workshop supports students’ developing reading as they explore the alphabetic code, conventions of grammar and spelling and the structure of story in writing. During whole class reading, students focus on patterns in literature as well as concepts in expository texts. Small group reading allows for concentration in learning strategies and skills and in-depth genre studies. Individual reading allows for extended individualized instruction and students’ personal exploration in reading.
Whole class discussions, small group investigations and individual inquiry define the curriculum structure in math, social studies and science. Everyday Mathematics is our math program of choice because of its rigor and relevance to the real world. K1 social studies focuses on the individual in community and highlights specific cultures around the globe. Students will choose, plan and implement local and global service projects.
Science incorporates the study of life, earth and physical science content, as well as tools of investigation under the guiding theme of Cycles. Students use technology to communicate their hands-on observations to young scientists across the globe. Service projects and outdoor education support the integration of science learning in real world settings.
Spanish, Mandarin, music, art and movement are taught in a workshop format. This format allows the student to engage in a broad range of techniques, conventions and content with real purpose and increasing expertise. While all the instructional content is grounded in the theories and components essential to the full expression and understanding of these areas, instruction is developmentally appropriate.
Conversational Spanish and Mandarin and an introduction to cultural practices in countries that speak these languages are taught each week. Music focuses on the individual’s musical understanding, as well as the development of community music. Students play and compose at the keyboard and sing in all-school choir, as well as participate in rhythm, song and movement classes with Hazel Ketchum, our music director. Art focuses on history, elements, techniques and tools as students develop their own aesthetic and create personal portfolios. Movement classes incorporate balance, strength, grace, and skill as students engage in karate, yoga and outdoor games.
Elementary (Grades 2 and 3)
Whole class, small group and individual work continue to shape the reading and writing program for Elementary students. As reading competence develops, children begin to work in self-selected reading groups. Students lead discussions, assign readings and negotiate meaning with increasing independence. Students spend more time considering large themes across multiple texts, comparing and contrasting characters and plots and making connections across expository texts.
The Elementary writing students are growing in range and competence. Writers expand their repertoire to include new genres, while revisiting poetry, memoir and non-fiction. The developing writers move towards extended revisions and take more responsibility for editing. Spelling, vocabulary and grammar instruction are embedded in the students’ writing and reading workshop.
In social studies, students widen the definition of community as they continue to consider the individual within community. The students’ developing perspective is reflected in their increasing leadership in the identification, planning and implementation of local and global service projects. The organizing theme for Elementary social studies is Growth and Change.
This theme is echoed in the Elementary study of systems and seasons in science. Science incorporates the study of life, earth and physical science content, science processes and tools of investigation. Students use technology to connect their studies at The Cooper School to the work of scientists and students around the globe; collecting and comparing data while using science tools and process. Service projects and outdoor education highlight the need to plan for and respond wisely to growth and change within systems.
Our math curriculum is spiraling, so students will continue to work toward a complete understanding of number and operations, while expanding their understanding of geometry, measurement, algebra, and data analysis. Math is applied to everyday use and is integrated across the curriculum.
Spanish, mandarin, music, art, and movement will continue to be taught in a workshop format. This format allows the student to engage in a broad range of techniques, conventions and content with real purpose and increasing expertise. While all the instructional content is grounded in the theories and components essential to the full expression and understanding of these areas, instruction is developmentally appropriate.
The focus for foreign languages is the development of conversational Mandarin and Spanish and cultural studies. In addition, students will also begin to read and write in Spanish and Mandarin. Students play the keyboard and sing in whole-school choir. Elementary students often begin to accompany the school choir with the keyboard or other instruments. Elementary students explore art as subjects of study, as well as ways of composing their growing understanding of themselves. Movement classes continue to incorporate balance, strength, and grace as students expand their personal repertoire of physical competence and expression during yoga, karate, and outdoor games.
Upper Elementary (Grades 4 and 5)
Whole class, small group and individual work continue to shape the reading and writing program for Upper Elementary students. Children work in self-selected reading groups as well as teacher designated groups, developing a sense of self and strength as readers. Students lead literature discussions with increased skill as they negotiate meaning of complex narratives and expository texts. Students consider large themes across multiple texts, comparing and contrasting elements of story and structures of expository texts as they become insiders in the world of reading.
The Upper Elementary writing student write across a wide range of genre with an understanding of craft and mechanics(spelling and grammar) that allows them to express themselves artfully and communicate with clarity. Now familiar with the process of writing, Upper Elementary writers develop flexibility and expertise as they spend more time on refining their writing during extended revisions. Vocabulary instruction continues to be intricately linked to writing and discussion skills.
In social studies for the young child has focused on the complexity of cultures and a lens of compassion for others. These two facets of early social studies education provide the bedrock for Upper Elementary students’ study of culture clashes. The students’ content knowledge, perspective of compassion and understanding, coupled with their developmental stage make this a ripe time to investigate the political overlay and its effect on cultures. The Upper Elementary student shows leadership in the identification, planning and implementation of local and global service projects. The organizing theme for Upper Elementary social studies is Conflict and Change.
This theme is echoed in the Upper Elementary study of systems, adaptations, and disruption in science. Science incorporates the study of life, earth and physical science content, science processes, tools of investigation and politics. Students use technology to connect their studies at The Cooper School to the work of scientists and students around the globe; collecting and comparing data while using science tools and process. Students are engaged in complex guided inquiry and content discussion. Service projects and outdoor education highlight the ability to adapt when systems are disrupted and to develop solutions locally and globally.
Our math curriculum is spiraling, so students will continue to work toward a complete understanding of number and operations, while expanding their understanding of geometry, measurement, algebra, and data analysis. Math continues to be applied to everyday use and will be integrated across the curriculum.
Spanish, Mandarin, music, art, and movement will continue to be taught in a workshop format. This format allows the student to engage in a broad range of techniques, conventions and content with real purpose and increasing expertise. While all the instructional content is grounded in the theories and components essential to the full expression and understanding of these areas, instruction is developmentally appropriate.
Students to read, write, and speak in Spanish and Mandarin. Upper Elementary students play and compose at the keyboard and sing in the whole-school choir. Upper Elementary students often accompany choir with the keyboard or instruments that are part of their independent study. Upper Elementary students explore the arts as subjects of study, as well as ways of composing their growing understanding of the world and themselves. Movement classes incorporate balance, strength, grace, and skill as students expand their personal repertoire of physical competence and expression in yoga, karate and outdoor games.
