Academic Excellence

Reading
The reading program is designed to accommodate each child's individual needs while fostering growth and skill enhancement. Children are placed in small, developmentally-based groups best suited to their needs and are taught using a blend of a Harcourt-Brace reading series, phonics, and Calvert's own reading materials. Instruction focuses on phonemic awareness, letter sound relationships, high frequency and sight word mastery, visual and auditory discrimination, and comprehension.

Writing
In the writing program, children begin to learn the development of logical and creative thought using words and language. Creative writing is integrated with reading through journals, summaries, book reports, poems and short stories. Children continue to practice fine motor skills in printing letters.

Mathematics
Instruction is focused on basic addition and subtraction with numbers, identifying patterns, sorting and classifying objects, place value, measurement, time, and money. Children are taught how to apply their mathematical knowledge in daily situations outside of the classroom. Children use the Math Connects textbook and enrichment materials and are grouped based on their developmental stage to best meet their needs.

Social and Emotional Development
Building on the foundation solidified during Pilot Class, character education continues more formally with the counselor who meets weekly with each homeroom. Topics include friendship, fears, manners, sharing, and self-control. Special emphasis is placed on responsibility, respectfulness, and continuing to become caring individuals.

Discovery
Discovery represents students' first foray into social studies. Teachers provide thematically-based activities as well as geography units to whet students' appetites and further enhance their skills and ability to think globally as well as synthesize their personal knowledge with the literature-based, hands-on activities. During this daily course, children explore topics related to their world and surroundings.