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Brain-Based Curriculum

We have long realized that the preschool and elementary years are the most vital years of learning for a child.  The development of language, physical growth, formation of personality traits, and emerging cognitive development are all occurring at this time. The foundation of every child’s development, i.e. physical, social, and cognitive, unfolds before us each day.

Our program is based upon that premise that each child has his or her own developmental calendar, and a special way of learning.  We have learned from our 43 years of research and experience in the educational setting that students learn in different modalities, and have developed our curriculum goals and benchmarks according to the latest brain-based research as well as our own findings.

Our teachers, therefore, recognize the developmental needs and learning styles of each child, and direct their teaching practices to best fit those needs and make learning a rewarding experience for each student. 

To reinforce the developmental skills taught in the classroom, we have integrated computer technology as well as other technological advances as learning tools.  We began a computer program in our first Virginia preschool in 1983, and the results were wonderful.  Children are inundated with technology in their daily lives, and those tools can be used positively to create a wonderful learning environment.  We use computer technology in both our preschool and elementary programs to reinforce early learning skills, foster creativity, develop problem-solving skills, develop language acquisition, develop research and create solutions to real-world problems. Students also learn social interaction by working compatibly with other children to increase communication skills and encourage logical thinking. 

Our elementary division offers an integrated accelerated academic environment. We have incorporated challenging and cohesive learning standards that will serve as the foundation and focal point of our program. Our curriculum goals are not only based on Florida Sunshine State Standards as a minimum guideline, but we have also incorporated standards from the states of Massachusetts, Virginia, California, Arizona, and Indiana- considered by many experts to be among the best in the nation- as our foundation for a brain-based curriculum. Students will progress at a pace that enables them to feel personal success as well as learn in a way that is most conducive to their strengths.

Our program places a special emphasis on the “whole” child, focusing on social, creative, emotional, physical, cognitive and moral development. Opportunities are provided for the child to use his or her creative abilities and divergent thinking skills. The low pupil-teacher ratio enables the teachers to work daily with each child on his or her level of development and ability. Our underlying goal is to promote a love for learning in a caring, safe environment.

Young Preschoolers

Our young preschool program is one with a relaxed, caring atmosphere.  Since one of the prime objectives of this program is to teach students to participate and interact in group activities, ample free play time both in and outdoors are planned.  The children are introduced to language acquisition, prereading skills, premath skills, nature, social studies, and environmental ideas through center-based activities as well as group learning at the appropriate age level.  A heavy emphasis is placed on language and concept development and the children are encouraged to speak in front of their classmates through group discussions, story telling, circle time, and show and share activities.  A language arts program which is a more formal approach to teaching vocabulary, concepts, listening skills, creative thinking, appreciation of literature, visual discrimination, auditory perceptual skills, and social adjustment is presented on a regular basis throughout the school year.  Videos and field trips are provided throughout the year in connection with unit studies.  Safety and health guidelines are stressed and explained, and pride in self, community, and country are discussed.

In addition to core subject activities, students are exposed to the creative arts with formal lessons in Music, Creative Art, Dance and Movement, and Spanish. Within a brain-based curriculum, using music as a teaching tool is paramount to success.  Music not only plays an important role with songs, poems, and dramatizations within the individual classroom, but is also taught specifically for students to acquaint themselves and appreciate different types of music, tones, rhythmic patterns, and instruments. Creative art teaching such as painting, coloring, cutting, pasting, clay modeling, and use of other mediums let students explore their creativity.  Movement education is provided to teach basic perceptual motor skills as well as explore and enhance students’ athletic and artistic abilities.

Pre-K

Our older preschool program is designed to prepare the children for the following year in a kindergarten program. A structured phonics program is taught by means of the Phonovisual system through games, pictures, and activities. This encourages our students to learn the basic concepts of the sound/symbol relationship upon which our system of reading is based.  For more information on our Phonovisual system, see the first paragraph of the “Kindergarten” section.

Kindergarten

Our Kindergarten curriculum has been carefully designed to teach the skills necessary for first grade and beyond. Our teachers are trained in the Phonovisual method of teaching phonics and reading acquisition. 

We have found this unique multi-sensory system to be extremely successful in teaching the young child the basis of sound/symbol relationships, which is the foundation for reading. By using games and other fun activities, the child learns to identify and isolate each consonant sound.

As the child becomes developmentally ready, he or she is encouraged to use the written symbol for the sounds.  Sight word recognition is also stressed, as are word families and vowel sounds towards the latter part of the program. The reading program is literature-based and incorporates both fiction and non-fiction subjects. Frequent trips to the school library help foster a love for books and reading.  Independent creative writing, journaling, poetry and creative dramatics enhance the language arts program.

Our kindergarten math program is introduced through several activities such as games, centers, manipulatives, computers, and printed reinforcement materials. Unit studies each month provide a cross-disciplinary approach towards obtaining math skills while working with real problem-solving activities. Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Spanish, Technology, and Physical Education and Movement are also included in the integrated program with an emphasis on creating a fun but challenging class environment. 

Elementary Division (grades 1-5)

Students in our elementary classes receive a firm foundation in reading skills, writing, math, science, social studies, conversational Spanish, health/ organizational sports, technology, art and music.

Small, individualized classes with 14-19 students help create a personal, intimate setting in the classroom. A customized brain-based curriculum helps students work at their own level and ability, while challenging them to strengthen their cognitive development, social skills, and reasoning ability. 

Teachers encourage students to recognize their individual learning styles in order to establish life-long positive learning habits that produce successful and well-rounded learners. Hands-on learning through experiments and exploration are emphasized as well as positive character development and responsibility.

 click here to download Elementary School Core Curriculum