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The School
We are currently in the process of building community interest, and filling out the application paper work for the funding from the school district. We are looking at prospective sites in both central, and south Salem, Oregon, and will let you know as soon as we have found one that works. The planning committee is very excited to be able to get this new school option out to you as soon as possible. Our current goal is September, 2024
We strongly believe that all students can be successful academically, given the right supports. To this end, it will not be the goal of the school to judge students by their peers academic performance, but rather by their own growth within each subject. Students will be placed in age/grade alike groups for homeroom activities such as art, music, P.E., Lunch, etc.. For core subjects, however students will be in ability groups which means that; if a student in kindergarten, happens to be reading at a 2nd grade level s/he will be placed in a 2nd grade reading group. The reverse is also true, if a student is having some trouble in math, for example a 6th grade student is still working on learning his/her times tables, then they will be placed with other students who are also working on that skill even if they are in different "grades". In this way students will be able to spend time with their age alike peers for social interaction, and also work at their individual levels within the different subjects. At the end of a unit of study students will be asked to produce work showing their current understanding and then regrouped based on that information. We will do our best to keep students within reasonable age/ability groupings whenever possible, which means that we will, most likely keep groupings k-2, 3-5, and 6-8, but we also understand that may not always be the case. If we feel that a student needs to be in a group that is not near their age group we will first work with them one on one to try to get them caught up, and also have a meeting with their family/care team to determine the best course of action.
Our Curriculum: Reading
We are currently looking into different curriculums. Here is what we know we will use, and what works:
Reading: The Daily 5, book clubs, and Imagine Learning My Path
Why we love it: we love this method as it allows the freedom for ability grouping, independent work, and differentiated teaching strategies. We will be able to use this method in all grade levels, and with a variety of both leveled book series, and commercially produced books.
Our Curriculum: Math
We are currently looking into different curriculums. Here is what we know we will use, and what works :
Math: We are seriously looking at using Imagine Learning My path.
We will use the curriculum in conjunction with math stations, we find that these are helpful in all grades as it gives students the opportunity to work with the concepts
1. using manipulatives
2. independently
3. in small groups
Our Curriculum:
Writing
We are currently looking into different curriculums. Here is what we know we will use, and what works:
Writing: For writing we will use a variety of teaching methods, and strategies. We will follow all district, and state guidelines for content knowledge, and scoring at each grade level.
We will defiantly be allowing students a variety of ways in which to produce their writing (paper and pencil, typing, talk to text etc.) the main goal will be that students feel empowered, and capable of getting their ideas in print to share with others.
Our Curriculum:
Science, and Social Studies
We are currently looking into different curriculums. Here is what we know we will use, and what works:
These subjects will be based on district, and state standards, and taught using mostly hands on methods. If we choose to use a set curriculum it will be minimal.
