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Corlears Curriculum The Corlears curriculum has been structured to foster the development of important basic skills. We encourage our children to become accomplished readers and writers, skilled in mathematics and practiced in the arts of observation, creative thinking, and problem solving. We also provide a solid grounding in social studies, the sciences, history, and geography. Art, music, drama, library, woodworking, physical education, and movement classes are vital extensions of our more formal classroom activities. The development of our curriculum is an ongoing process. Because children learn with their entire beings, their bodies, minds, and emotions - and have an innate desire to master their world, we believe that they learn best in an emotionally supportive atmosphere, through experiences that grow out of the environment and the resources at hand. Our educational materials are age-appropriate, and progress from the concrete to the abstract. The curriculum follows a sequential plan from year to year. We integrate the curriculum so that social studies, language arts, mathematics, and the arts are addressed in a variety of ways. This approach to education encourages the ability to develop solutions to intricate and complex problems, facilitates the development of analytic skills, and promotes flexibility in thinking. In the development of lifetime cognitive skills, the learning process is as important as the educational content. Corlears children are encouraged to be questioning and to express their curiosity in everything they do. This results in an active learning process, one which involves experimentation, evaluation, and hypothesis testing. The curriculum also provides for the exploration of individual interests as they develop. Nursery: Two and
a Half to Four Year Olds The nursery program at Corlears has been designed to foster the imagination and curiosity of young children. The individual needs of each child are considered and a warm, nurturing atmosphere exists. Self-esteem is cultivated. The physical environment is uniquely tailored to the requirements of young children. The program is a combination of structure and flexibility and allows for a wide range of individual interests and talents. Early reading and language skills are approached through storytelling, describing experiences, and communicating needs. The important connection between printed words and meaning is often made by having children dictate their experiences to teachers and then see their words and ideas in print. Letter and word sounds, rhyming, and rhythms are explored through literature and music. Similarities and differences between letters are studied. The children are encouraged to share ideas in a group. Class books may be created around a field trip, a shared experience, or a topic of class interest. The approach to mathematics in the early childhood years begins with the exploration of mathematical ideas such as time, spatial relationships, numbers, temperature, and weight. The child uses physical experiences to understand these concepts. As maturation takes place, verbal skills and abstract thinking add depth and complexity to these ideas. Ordering, sequencing, correspondence, sorting, classifying, comparison, and basic geometric shapes are also explored. Individualized learning experiences are an important part of the program. The early social studies curriculum examines the child's beginning separation from the family and focuses on the development of autonomy and a positive sense of self. Emphasis is placed on the development of social skills necessary to be part of a group. Children learn to assert their own needs as well as to recognize the needs and rights of others as they move toward cooperative play. As they grow and develop, they will explore the family, classroom and the school environment and will begin to learn more about their neighborhood and community. The study of science at Corlears encourages children to maintain their spontaneous curiosity while, at the same time, developing skills of observation and the ability to draw conclusions. Early curriculum materials explore the physical properties of nature, such as weather change and the identification of animals. Cooking provides the opportunity to experiment with combining ingredients to produce changes in the physical properties of things through the application of heat. Children explore the differences and similarities between objects, and their observations, understanding, and insights become more complex. They also explore the effect people and the environment have on living things. Corlears provides activities to foster creativity and to enhance the appreciation of various art forms such as drawing, painting, music, dance, and theater. Creative expression provides the children with an important way to convey emotions, practice new roles, use their imaginations, and explore the sensual world. Activities in music, dance, and physical education also help develop balance and coordination. These early years are fundamental to education. Under the guidance of a skilled, nurturing faculty our children continue to be active learners, retaining the curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm which contributes to later success in school and in life itself. The Elementary Grades K – 4th Grade Elementary school children constantly expand their horizons, moving from the safety of the family and school to the exploration of their environment. This is the time when they acquire the basic skills and knowledge that are critical for future academic success. Building on earlier learning experiences, the children continue to explore increasingly abstract mathematical concepts. They approach the mechanics of math with greater facility because they understand how it works. Cuisenaire rods and Dienes blocks are some concrete materials that help to develop a grasp of mathematical principles as well as strong computational skills. In the grades, the social studies curriculum integrates language arts, math, science, and the visual and performing arts. It provides a means by which children can learn about themselves, other people, and the world. They begin to focus on the many ways people organize themselves, beginning with their classroom and extending to the neighborhood, city, and state. They study geography, use maps, and learn concepts related to location and direction. The children also explore the way environment and technology affect
people's lives. After investigating their own lives, the children begin to
move further back in time. They learn about immigration to the The science program provides a rich variety of experiences with natural and physical phenomena. The children explore animal and plant life. They find out how things work. This may involve play with simple machines, e.g. the construction of a doorbell. They develop theories about their findings and record their discoveries. One such effort is the hardcover, illustrated version of Water Does Amazing Things, by a group of our 6/7s. As the children move further into the grades, the science curriculum explores increasingly complex relationships and theories. It continues to develop predictive and observational skills. Classroom study is further enriched by field trips. Children express themselves through the arts, drama, movement, and music. Out of these experiences they develop an aesthetic sense. In addition to painting and woodworking projects, the children create their own books, sing in the chorus, learn to read music and to play the recorder. The movement program combines modern dance techniques and creative movement and improvisation. |
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Corlears School © 2000 Corlears School, All Rights Reserved |
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