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, and their instructors ensure that those goals are appropriate to a student’s capabilities. This page includes some examples of current and past instruction.
Math
We primarily use the Beast Academy math curriculum for core math instruction, though students who need extra practice may be assigned additional materials. We 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 reader and early chapter books. We try to make time for paired reading even after students are strong independent readers, further developing vocabulary, fluency, and confidence. Most days also include a story time where the teacher reads a nonfiction picture book.
Students who are at least eight years old and who read comfortably at a 4th grade level or above are invited to participate in our middle grade American History Literature course. Participating students will read one book each week in addition to the textbook, developing strong foundational knowledge of American history alongside stronger reading and analysis skills.
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.
Students who have mastered the basics of writing can refine their composition skills in our American History Literature course, which will take students from constructing paragraphs to writing full book reports.
Science
This year’s students have requested that their science goals be primarily reading-based, allowing each of them to study different things. Most students are currently working through a children’s science encyclopedia, as well as nonfiction books related to their particular interests, including the ocean, the human body, and climate change. (One student requested that she be excused from the science requirement this year in order to double up on math instruction, in service to the goal of being able to read and understand scientific papers as quickly as possible).
Past years have included science classes such as Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, an instructor-developed course about the history of science and technology, and self-directed science experiments worked on 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. All students can participate in weekly civics classes, which discuss the functioning of the society in which the students live (including debating rules for our own school!).
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.
This year’s primary social studies class will be American History Literature, which will combine foundational American history knowledge with developing reading and writing skills.
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, economics, and music. Our current guest classes are art, civics, climate change, and an activity-based American History class for students too young to participate in American History Literature.