Elementary Program & Curriculum

In the elementary grades we continue to focus on the social and emotional development of each student by building on the foundations laid in our Early Childhood Program. We strive to nurture the emotional understanding, motivation, and social skills in students in order for them to be happy and productive members of the larger world. Our multi-graded classes and low student/teacher ratio support a learning environment in which students develop confidence and pride in their accomplishments. Basic skills of reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and research are taught at every level. These skills are used as tools to raise and explore questions and solve problems.

The language arts program develops students reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. In the early grades teachers focus on enhancing students' phonemic awareness which is an integral part of decoding and spelling. D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) time, during which students independently select books for silent reading, and Read Aloud, when teachers read to their classes, are regular parts of the school day. Writing is included in all areas of the curriculum. In the early grades grammar and style are addressed in the context of writing. As children move into the upper grades they explore these finer points in a more structured approach. Students participate in class meetings, small group projects and individual oral presentations. These opportunities help students learn how to engage in discussion and how to listen actively.

The math program draws from several different resources and follows recommendations made by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). Students of all grade levels use a variety of materials to develop their number sense, problem solving abilities, and computation skills. At Free Union we believe that developing one's ability to reason logically is paramount in the mathematical process; therefore, students regularly share their mathematical thinking orally, in writing, and through pictures and graphs. Instruction occurs in many forms: whole class, small groups, and one-on-one.

 

All social studies and science units focus on helping children to develop the habits of questioning, assessing, connecting, and applying knowledge to their existing view of the world. These habits are held in as high esteem as the information students explore.

Project units are developed by the teachers with enough flexibility to take into account personal expertise, student interest, and the goal of providing a solid foundation of knowledge for middle and high school. The specific projects explored in each classroom vary from year to year. Each class completes one social studies unit in each of the following areas: Community, American History, and World Culture. Inherent in these units are opportunities for developing research and study skills, geography, government, and current events.

The natural setting of Free Union Country School provides a rich and constant reminder of the importance of science in education. Children's innate curiosity about nature, the environment, and the 'how' or 'why' of things is piqued and encouraged both inside and outside of the classroom. Students and teachers welcome the beginning of each school year with a whole school science project study. This project integrates all ages, thus strengthening the sense of community among the students. Currently, this project study revolves around the life cycle of monarch butterflies.