Lower School: Academic Program

The academic program in the Lower School promotes a developmentally appropriate building of skills. Phonemic awareness and phonics instruction begin in the earliest grades and continue through Grade 4. Pre-reading activities are introduced in PK, while Kindergarten students use the Open Court text series with decodable texts and explore concepts through literacy centers. Literature based basals are initiated in Grades 1 and 2, and novels and short stories are utilized in Grades 3 and 4. The Accelerated Reader program is used as a reading incentive and for assessing comprehension skills. A formal word study program is presented to students in Grades 1-4. Handwriting Without Tears program is introduced at the PK level; instruction continues through Grade 4. Writing begins in PK and Kindergarten with dictated sentences and journal writing. Students in Grades K-4 use the Step Up To Writing program to provide consistency of instruction in this area. The Touch Math program is utilized at all grade levels; math textbooks are also used in Grades 2-4. The Accelerated Math program is used in Grades 3 and 4 to allow students to work at their own pace; math enrichment is also provided by the Differentiated Learning Specialist to students in these grades who have advanced math skills. Various Science and Social Studies themes are the focus for PK-Grade 2. Students in Grades 1 and 2 visit the Science lab once a week, while Grades 3 and 4 attend science class four times a week. Inquiry-based FOSS science kits are used for instruction. Social Studies texts are utilized for Grades 3 and 4 as students study their respective subjects of geography and regions of the United States and Virginia History. All PK 4/5-Grade 2 students have weekly lessons in Spanish; Grades 3 and 4 have lessons twice a week throughout the year.

Special Area classes offer many enriching opportunities for students to develop their individual talents. Most students participate in Physical Education classes 2-4 times a week; Art and Music twice a week; and Library, Computer and Wellness once a week. A Strings program is offered to students in Grade 4.