Academics Lower School

Lower School (K-4) Philosophy

 

Our mission is to provide a nurturing and safe environment where students can explore, question, problem solve, and learn. We encourage students to develop accountability for behavior and to strive for independence. Within a structured environment, we focus on providing many avenues for learning and emphasize the use of teaching strategies that meet the needs of different learning styles. We teach students to work and learn cooperatively, to develop thinking skills, organizational skills, and self-advocacy. We are mindful of the importance of a student's self-esteem, self-confidence, as well as social skills, and strive to enhance them throughout the program.

Lower School Academic and Specialty Areas

• Language Arts
• Pragmatics to Ponder
• Mathematics
• Science Lab
• Social Studies
• Art
• Computers
• Music
• Physical Education

Lower School Language Arts

 

In Language Arts, reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills are emphasized. Students are involved in a reading and a language arts block daily. The focus of the Reading Program is to teach the appreciation and understanding of literature and to create enthusiastic and discerning readers while the focus of the Language Arts Program is to develop the ability to communicate through the written word. The school requires students to take these courses simultaneously, thereby allowing students to receive a double exposure to reading, writing and critical thinking which are skills necessary for academic and personal success. The program addresses differences in learning styles and achievement levels beginning in Grade 2. In the classes for students with minimal learning differences there is a smaller student/teacher ratio.

 

The learning objectives and the scope and sequence for Language Arts were developed by teacher representatives from all grade levels. The objectives reflect the desire to meet developmental needs of students at each level while maintaining a challenging academic program.

 

The scope and sequence follow a logical progression of skills in word attack with an emphasis on phonics, comprehension, writing skills, study skills, critical, and analytical skills. The faculty employ a variety of teaching strategies, activities, and methods of evaluation to enhance the success of the students regardless of their learning styles.

 

Lower School Pragmatics to Ponder

Pragmatics are the underlying rules we observe in using language to communicate socially with others. These conversational rules guide us in initiating, maintaining, and terminating conversations. They address aspects of topic maintenance and turn-taking. They guide us in changing our language depending on who we are talking with, where we are talking and what we are talking about. When we don't follow these rules, conversation often breaks down--there may be confusion or a misunderstanding, someone may be offended, the conversation may even end. We use our repair strategies to get the conversation going again.

 

Pragmatic rules are not usually taught to us directly. We are expected to "pick them up" by listening to and observing the conversations around us. Unfortunately, children with learning differences or language difficulties typically do not appear to pick them up very easily. Studies show that these children often experience problems negotiating social language.

 

Pragmatics to Ponder is a curriculum designed to address the pragmatic language needs of McLean's students. It was co-authored by the school's speech-language pathologist and one of McLean's fourth grade teachers. Each weekly lesson includes discussion, observation, role-playing, games or other activities, and a Pragmatics to Ponder -- "homework activity" to share with parents that reinforces classroom work. Catch some of our students after pragmatics class and they'll be able to teach you about the underlying rules we follow in communicating with others.

Lower School Mathematics

 

The mathematics program at McLean School consists of various teaching styles and learning materials, united in a single purpose which is to develop mathematical skills and conceptual understanding in each McLean child. Learning objectives are developed by individual teachers. These teachers select their own materials and strategies appropriate to particular classes and students.

 

Students in grades K-4 are in classrooms which feature both group and individual instruction. Students are placed in classes according to their skills, learning styles, and academic needs. Students with minimal learning differences are offered instruction using alternative teaching methods as well as an opportunity to remediate weaknesses according to diagnostic profiles. Materials are designed to take advantage of a student's particular learning style.

 

The goal of the (K-4) math curriculum is to enable children to use mathematics and understand its relevance in their daily lives through exploration, discovery, and the solving of meaningful problems. Many math manipulatives are used to aid in learning computation skills as well as to ensure conceptual understanding. Board games, card games, chalk board games and computer software are used to supplement practice sheets and oral drill of basic operations. Calculators are regularly used to enhance number sense and problem solving skills. Whenever possible, math activities are integrated with other curricular areas such as science and social studies.

 

In grade 4, basic facts using the four operations are drilled for mastery. Arithmetic algorithms are taught at increasingly advanced levels.. Students use problem solving strategies to reinforce and apply mathematical skills that have been previously taught. Rounding and estimating skills, as well as the use of a calculator, are incorporated into the curriculum. Throughout all skill areas, math manipulatives and cooperative learning activities are employed to teach concepts and facilitate communication.

Lower School Science Lab

 

The multi-sensory curriculum concentrates on exploratory learning of various elementary science concepts and building on the children's natural interest in the world. Observation, identification, interpretation, experimentation, application, and critical thinking skills are developed across the grade levels. Predicting, hypothesizing, and the scientific method are also practiced. A hands-on-approach is continuous across the grade levels. Projects, field trips, experiments, teacher observation, lab reports, and tests are the basis for evaluation.

 

All of the classes are taught, using a hands-on inquiry-based approach by a science specialist in each of grades K-4. Students meet three to five times per week with each specialist. Classes are taught in the classroom and are also conducted in a well-equipped science lab.

 

Students are encouraged to have fun while synthesizing concrete and abstract information. Projects, field trips, experimentation, teacher observation, lab reports, and tests are the basis for evaluation. Group projects and independent thinking are encouraged as the student advances in each grade level. Through activities, students are led to relate science to their everyday lives.

 

Topics covered in Grades K-4:

 

Kindergarten:	Five Senses, Seasons/Weather, Floating & Sinking, Dinosaurs, Changes
1st Grade:	Senses & Human Body, Volcanoes, Living/Nonliving Things, Soil and Rocks, Spiders and Insects
2nd Grade:	Food and Nutrition, Magnetism, Water and Air, Sun, Moon, and Stars, Animals
3rd Grade:	Light and Color, Weather, Matter, Sound, Plants and Flowers
4th Grade:	Rocks and Minerals, Land Forms, Simple Machines, Solar System, Animal Behavior and Adaptations

 

Lower School Social Studies

 

The social studies curriculum in kindergarten through fourth grade focuses on: the development of geography skills and an appreciation of various cultures, both historical and contemporary; interpretation of current events and their effect on the students; and an understanding of the students themselves and the communities around them.

 

 

The students use a variety of resources with their studies. Field trips, audiovisual materials, texts, newspapers, and speakers are some techniques used to foster an appreciation and understanding of the world around them. Study and research skills are integrated with the curriculum throughout the grades.

 

Kindergarten through grade three concentrate primarily on the concepts of self and community. Grade four concentrates on the geographical regions of the United States.

 

 

All classes in each grade follow the same curriculum. The difference between the classes is in the delivery techniques for the concepts presented and in abstract conceptualization needed. While the content is the same for all grade classes, the activities many vary depending on the learning style of each specific class. An integrated and cross-curricular approach is utilized in the Lower School.