Lower School Academics

Pre-Nursery - Grade 5

The Lower School provides a supportive environment in which children can develop their academic skills and establish a strong foundation in all disciplines. Small classes enable teachers to work with each student every day; a cheerful and pleasant approach in a relaxed and safe setting encourages a spontaneous, inquisitive attitude and confidence that school is a happy place in which to learn.

Each classroom provides a daily routine that gives children a clearly directed program with increasing departmentalization each year. Students assume increasing responsibility in completing academic assignments and other tasks, in caring for their possessions, in respecting the wishes and properties of other people, and in appreciating individual and group accomplishments.

The Lower School program is predicated upon several basic principles: the awareness that each child needs to be challenged individually because each child matures individually; the understanding that routines, while necessary to bring security to children, must be flexible; the belief that learning can be fun even when it involves hard work; and the commitment to building the skills that lead to a college-preparatory program in secondary school.

Pre-Nursery, Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten

During the early years Portledge provides an environment in which children can learn actively. Blocks, clay, sand, and manipulative materials are used extensively. Hands-on experiences and interaction with adults and peers provide the foundation for reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. Language development is nurtured in a stimulating environment, rich with conversation, stories, poetry, songs and chants, and dramatic play.

To allow for the many aspects of each childís growth, Portledge offers a unique schedule in kindergarten. The full day program, through noon on Friday, presents an array of special activities including art, environmental studies, library, drama, computers, French, music, and physical education. In addition, each child is grouped homogeneously with three or four other students for an individualized academic program two afternoons a week. The reading, writing and arithmetic materials used are varied and geared to individual needs. This stimulating program provides a wonderful preparation for grade school.

In order to provide children with the best chance for enjoying success, the School has designated September 1 as an entrance birth date; children entering pre-nursery will be two years old by September 1 of their first school year and a similar age grouping will characterize succeeding classes. Pre-nursery children attend three mornings a week; nursery children attend school three or five mornings a week. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children have full day programs Monday through Thursday and attend until noon on Fridays.

Grades One through Five

In each grade, the emphasis is on acquiring the fundamental academic skills necessary for later success. Students are taught in both large and small groups in a self-contained classroom for English, mathematics, and social studies. Specialists present specific subjects in greater depth. Frequent field trips at all levels provide enrichment to supplement classwork and assignments. Homework in each grade gradually increases in length to about twenty minutes per subject, per night. In grade five, careful review is required for examinations, and teachers focus on developing the study skills needed for these tests. There are many forms of assessment; students engage in projects, write extensively, and learn study skills that prepare them for testing.

English - Language Arts

In reading, students work on locating main ideas and supporting details, understanding the sequence of events, comprehending inferences, and drawing conclusions. Written work focuses on creativity and accuracy in communication using the writing process. Students develop basic writing skills which enable them to write with meaning and purpose using a rich vocabulary. Students in all grades write stories, descriptions, dialogues, and poems and add constantly to their reading, speaking, and writing vocabularies. Roots, prefixes, and suffixes are studied, as are the basic spelling rules. Students begin the study of grammar and practice summarizing, pre-writing, note-taking, and proofreading. Emphasis is placed on using library and technology resources for gathering information.

Mathematics

The curriculum for Lower School mathematics is organized into five major strands: numbers and numeration, operations with whole numbers, operations with fractions and decimals, probability and statistics, and geometry and measurement. These strands develop sequentially through grade five. A primary objective of the mathematics program is to develop a solid foundation in arithmetic and problem solving skills. Stress is placed on how a student arrives at an answer, and children are encouraged to discuss mathematical procedures. The ability to estimate and numerical literacy are important elements in the curriculum. Mathematical games, contests and manipulative materials supplement texts to reinforce concepts. Beginning in first grade, children work individually, in small homogeneous groups, and in classroom settings. In fifth grade, students are grouped by ability in mathematics with the advanced section moving at a more rapid pace with a more challenging curriculum.

Social Studies

Social studies brings the world to the classroom as the students study geography, the family, community organizations, the global community, and particular historical periods. Class discussions, projects that revolve around the childís world and the childís perceptions, current events, observation skills, and oral reporting are stressed at each level. Report writing is introduced in third grade through the study of the presidents, Long Island, and the United States. Historic literature forms the basis for the study of the Revolutionary War, Colonial America, Westward Expansion, and the Civil War in the fourth grade. Students participate in role-playing and simulations to reinforce concepts and values. The fifth grade social studies program focuses on the history, geography, anthropology, political science and economics of Latin America including a unit on Mesoamerica. Note taking from the chalkboard, from reading, and from class discussions is required.

In addition, each Lower School class chooses a country to research throughout the year. This in-depth study culminates in a celebratory day when each class presents what it has learned about this special area of the world. This sharing of information develops appreciation for the differences and similarities in world cultures.

Science

The science curriculum in the Lower School covers life science, earth and space science, and the human body. Classes are based on the discovery method using hands on experiments. Topics of study include ecology, the life cycle of plants, animal adaptations, chick embryology, rockets, and electricity. Students record their investigations by writing lab reports. Students learn and use metric measurement, and they develop skills in the use of balances and microscopes.

The curriculum is enriched by nature studies on our campus and adjoining nature preserve. Field trips to Atlantis Marine World, the Cradle of Aviation and other destinations also enhance classroom studies. All students in grades 3-5 participate in the Science Fair each spring.

French

French instruction begins in kindergarten with emphasis on the spoken language and the continuous study of French culture. Reading begins with word recognition, the identification of objects, songs, and poetry. Formal writing begins in fourth grade. The curriculum is based on oral communication, and the focus is on the childís environment. Activities include games, role-play, and hands-on activities.

Computers

Computer skills are an integral part of the Portledge education. The Lower School boasts an updated, multimedia PC-based computer lab with 18 workstations. Small classes allow each student access to his or her own computer for computer instruction. Mini labs are also present in the Lower School library, fifth grade annex and science lab. There are also computer centers in every classroom from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Sound computer skills and responsible computer use are employed from the early years. Beginning in Pre-kindergarten, students visit the computer lab for scheduled classes. These classes provide the foundation for our ever-changing technological world. Instruction in word processing, spreadsheets, project presentation and safe Internet usage is provided at an age-appropriate level. The use of educational software and CD-ROM based exploration is also part of the program. Our students participate in keyboard instruction beginning in first grade and continuing throughout their Lower School years.

Library

All grades visit the Peter Franklin Dunn Library at least once a week and receive regular instruction in library research skills. Classes utilize the library to do research when needed. The library immerses children in the world of literature and imagination through storytelling, creative dramatics, and creative writing. Students learn to use research skills to locate information and to use online encyclopedias, the Internet, and other technology when conducting research. Third, fourth and fifth grade students are encouraged to be independent users of the library.

Art

Students meet regularly in the Art Room beginning in Pre-Kindergarten. Students work in a variety of media. Units covered in class include drawing, painting, ceramics, textiles, printmaking, sculpture, and photography. Art appreciation and art history are taught through the presentation of a variety of works by recognized artists and through in-class critiques. Student art work is displayed in the halls throughout the Lower School.

Drama

Creative dramatics classes begin in Pre-kindergarten. Children are encouraged in creative expression through the use of theatre games, improvisation, theatrical exercises and problem solving. Basic theatrical terms and techniques, theater etiquette, and skills such as improvisation, sense memory, monologues, and scene study create an introduction to the performing arts. In addition, each Lower School class presents two short plays during the year in the informal setting of the weekly assemblies. These plays frequently reflect an area of the curriculum and are often based on familiar folk tales. The Lower School offers one large scale musical production annually, in which grades 1-5 participate.

Music

The Lower School general music curriculum is a cumulative, activity-based curriculum. The Early Childhood curriculum (Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten) is loosely based on the Jump Right In Early Childhood Music Curriculum, which guides young children through the types and sequential stages of preparatory audiation. Students in kindergarten through grade five experience an Orff-Schulwerk curriculum. The Orff approach to elementary music learning addresses every aspect of musical behavior: performing, creating, listening, and analyzing. Both curricula address the National Standards for Music Education.

In addition to the general music curriculum, students in grades four and five begin instrumental study in band and orchestra instruments. Students receive an instrumental group lesson weekly in addition to their general music classes.

Physical Education

In pre-kindergarten through fourth grade physical education classes focus on the development of physical coordination and conditioning, individual team sport skills, good sportsmanship and enjoyment in participation. Students meet several times a week with physical education instructors.

Guidance

Groups of teachers meet regularly with the Lower School Director and the Coordinator of Educational Services to discuss the progress of each child and to identify children who are experiencing difficulty.† Occasionally, the help of a consulting psychologist may be sought to assess learning problems and to recommend strategies for improvement. The Coordinator then works with classroom teachers to implement these strategies. Regular communication with parents by faculty and administrators is a crucial ingredient in the guidance of each child.

The School is a member of the Educational Records Bureau and administers its academic assessment tests each year in grades three through nine. The results are reported to parents as a helpful guide that shows a childís progress in comparison with national percentiles.

Health education is part of the self-contained classroom and homeroom program. Each year there is instruction about communicable diseases and healthy lifestyles. Self-esteem is the central focus of the health and guidance program and is seen as the primary defense against drugs and alcohol.

The Lower School does not have a specific program in sex education. The open and trusting relationship between children and teachers encourages communication, and questions about sexual matters are answered as they arise. Fourth and fifth grade students meet with the school nurse, the Lower School Director, and members of the Physical Education department to discuss puberty. Science classes provide information about reproduction.