Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to support students by instilling a love of learning and creating the lifetime habits of asking questions, seeking information, thinking critically, solving problems creatively, and communicating in a variety of ways.
GCS provides an exciting learning environment that includes a challenging and researched-based curriculum, hands-on and experiential learning, along with rich and meaningful community engagement. The learning environment and lessons are developmentally appropriate to each multi-age grouping. Teachers differentiate instruction based on individual academic and developmental readiness. Children learn to set goals and take responsibility for their own learning. GCS supports its teachers to continually challenge themselves to learn and grow as educators, to embody best practices and to initiate innovative methods. GCS recognizes that children are capable of contributing to their education and community and, to that end, provides opportunities for leadership, collaboration and engaging with the challenges of a complex world.
Our school recognizes the obligation of parents and educators to provide our next generation with a scholarly foundation based in the ideals of tolerance, resilience, and respect. We view parents as the first teachers of their children and understand the importance of a strong relationship between each family and the school. This relationship is crucial for children to be successful and confident as they move through their school experience.
Enrichment: All our students study foreign language, music, theater, visual art, and physical education. These subjects tie directly to students’ core studies in literature, social studies, math, and science.
Assessments: We hold bi-annual parent/student/teacher conferences. Students set personal goals and compile portfolios of their work, while teachers provide skills-based assessments and detailed narratives describing students’ academic, social, emotional, and physical progress.
iReady is a program thatassesses students in reading and math throughout the year. The data providedfrom this creates a personalized learning path for each student to strengthentheir skills. Students take a “diagnostic” each trimester to measure theirproficiency levels and are then set on an individual learning path that theycomplete at their own pace. Periodic growth checks give students theopportunity to see their improvement. The data provided allows us to closelymonitor the needs of our students which can then be shared with parents. Thedata also gives our teachers access to additional materials and allows thestudents to work in confidence while having fun! The individual learning pathsare offered as a center activity and academic choice outside of classwork andhands-on projects. iReady curriculum aligns with the West Virginia GeneralSummative Assessment that all students take beginning in third grade. Thisallows our students to gain exposed to the types of questions they might see onthe WVGSA. The state test is completely computerized, so iReady is a great toolto help prepare them for that format as we are not a school who focuses ourcurriculum or teaching with the state testing in mind.
Young children thrive in our small classes of where teachers focus on individual needs and development through play. Exciting, hands-on activities and frequent outdoor play support all developmental areas: physical, social, emotional, and cognitive.
Our primary classes focus on individual and collaborative work. Teachers arrange classrooms and design lessons to promote discussion and teamwork. Our elementary program is developmentally appropriate and inquiry-based, nurturing creativity and providing a strong academic foundation. The researched-based curricula listed below emphasizes creative problem-solving, analytical thinking and communication skills.
