Workplace Standards:  

In our classroom, we practice being responsible and respectful. That means coming to school on time, being ready to learn, and treating ourselves and others kindly. We work hard, stay focused, and join in on activities. When we do these things, our classroom becomes a safe, positive place where everyone can learn and grow. 

English Language Arts: 

We practice reading for comprehension, building vocabulary, and for enjoyment. We attend daily book clubs where we read together, discuss our thoughts, and listen to each other’s perspectives. We learn how to identify the main idea or theme in a variety of texts, and we observe how characters change. We also make personal connections to everything we read in class. We reflect on how every text relates to our own personal lives, compares to something else we’ve read or seen before, and how it relates to history or the current events in the world around us. We practice the writing process daily through mind mapping, summarizing, deeply reflecting on our educational and personal growth, and creating stories of our own. We build our vocabulary, work on grammar, and practice speaking and listening. Through dialogue and discussion, we learn to share our voices, respect others, and build the confidence to speak up and express ourselves clearly. 

Mathematics: 

 Through Ag Lab, we get to experience math through real life scenarios. We work with time and fractions when we cook or make soap, and we practice financial literacy through the sales of our handmade products. We also take surveys to collect data and create graphs, then we look at those graphs using averages and probability to understand the data. We work with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages, and learn how they connect. We practice multi-step problems, explore ratios and algebra, and learn about shapes, area, volume, and coordinates on a grid. Math is not just about solving problems on paper, it’s about thinking critically, explaining our answers, and being able to teach others.  

PIBL: Social Studies, Science, Health 

Social Studies:  

We get hands-on by taking part in special events like the International Festival, where we research, create, and celebrate cultures from around the world, and also the Jacksonville Science Festival, where we share our learning with the community. Working in small research groups allows us the opportunity to find our natural strengths within our scrum roles, whether it be a leadership role, a creative role, or the glue that holds the team together. We learn about the history, geography, government, and cultures of the U.S. and the world. We study important people and events, learn what it means to be a good citizen, and practice reading maps and looking at how people interact with their environment. We also learn about money, resources, trade, and connect history to issues happening today.  

Science:   

In class, science comes alive through gardening to learn how plants grow, and by taking care of our chickens and bunnies as we study animals, life cycles, and ecosystems. Science is about being curious, testing ideas, and using evidence to explain what we find. We explore the natural world by asking questions and conducting experiments. We learn about matter, energy, motion, ecosystems, and living things. We also study Earth’s systems, like weather, climate, and natural resources, and think about how humans affect the planet.   

Health:  

We learn how to keep our bodies and minds healthy. That means eating well, staying active, practicing good hygiene, and knowing how to stay safe. We also talk about feelings, relationships, and how to make good choices. We practice Tai Chi, which helps us relax, build strength, and stay focused. We learn how tai chi is important for both our physical and mental health. Health is about taking care of ourselves through nutrition and exercise, respecting others, and building habits that help us feel our best.