Academics
Because all students set their own goals, it’s impossible to say ahead of time exactly what a given student will end up studying. However, elementary school students are expected to set goals for each of reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. This page includes some examples of current and past instruction.
Math
We use the Beast Academy math curriculum for core math instruction, and supplement with special lessons and integrating math into other subjects. Special math lessons have included:
Using Magic: The Gathering to practice addition, subtraction, fractions, percents, and variables.
Using the Pythagorean Theorem to find the distances flown by paper airplanes during a student-led science experiment.
Integrating math into social studies when learning to find an amount of tax owed.
Designing and running pretend stores, and practicing giving change to classmates.
Reading
We use phonics-based reading instruction and emphasize sounding out words in the early stages of reading. Children who are just beginning to read are taught using Bob Books, while readers who are gaining confidence read a wide variety of early reading books. Most days also include a story time where the teacher reads a nonfiction picture book.
Students who read comfortably at a 4th grade level or above may participate in our Read Around The World literature class, a geography-based global literature class where students read and discuss one novel or memoir each week. Confident readers may also select any book from the school library to read alone, and are given points for summarizing any books that they complete.
Writing
Next to reading, handwriting is one of the most difficult skills that students must master in the early grades. Students must learn to write their numbers to begin math instruction, and are encouraged to practice their letters as much as possible using a combination of writing games, worksheets, and integration into other subjects. Activities like painting, coloring, origami, and use of play dough are also encouraged, as they build finger strength and fine motor skills. English grammar and oral storytelling classes allow students to begin practicing composition before mastering handwriting.
Students who have mastered the basics of writing refine their composition skills using journal entries and books of story prompts.
Science
Last year, our science curriculum was Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, a weekly activity and discussion-based science curriculum for grades K-2. This year, it is History of Science and Technology, a combined history and science course that is being created and developed by our instructors. Students requested this course about six moths ago, and we are excited to finally offer it.
Elementary school students also set their own specific science goals each semester (science goals are optional for kindergarteners). Past student goals have included:
Studying the ocean.
Studying the human body.
Studying introductory physics.
Learning about the scientific method by running an experiment over the course of several weeks.
Social Studies
Social studies is a broad category including the study of both historical and modern society. Study of history begins with story time - we favor picture book biographies as story time books for students of all ages. Weekly classes for all ages include economics and civics, which focus on different aspects of the modern world.
Elementary school students also set their own social studies goals for each semester (like science, this is optional for kindergarteners). Last year’s elementary school social studies class focused on economics and government concepts, and included study of the constitution and bill of rights, examination of the California voter guide, discussion of money and taxes, and a series of lessons discussing differences in the requirements and pay for different professions. Our current primary social studies class is our history of science and technology course, which runs four days a week.
Guest Lessons
Much of our curriculum is created and taught by parents of students, many of whom come in for an hour or two each week and teach a secondary class. Classes can be single-session or recurring on a weekly basis. Some secondary classes focus on skills associated with the core subjects, while others cover other material. Past guest classes have included cooking, map-reading, holidays, astronomy, geography, and Magical Kitties Save the Day (a storytelling board game). Our current guest classes are art, music, economics, and civics.
Students who can comfortably read, write, add, and subtract are invited to participate in the school’s Pathfinder game, which is run by the primary teacher on Wednesday afternoons after school.