Each child
enters the world programmed to learn in his own unique way according to his own
unique timeline and style. At the
Organic School, children are grouped according to their age, individual
learning style and readiness to learn.
Pre K and Kindergarten --
Learning Through Play
We nurture
young, inquisitive minds by stimulating our natural, playful curiosity. We
explore and examine the world around us, our classrooms, campus, and all the
places around our school, especially the woods and gully. We capture and study insects before releasing
them. We sing songs, create messy
concoctions, cook, count and talk. We
play with shapes and colors and listen attentively while our teacher reads stories
to us. We make up our own stories and
create convoluted costumes. Our bodies
are growing and we eat good food to build strong muscles. We play outside several times a day and learn
how to get along and play cooperatively with our classmates. Our spirits grow as we sing, dance and create
masterpieces with crayons and markers.
We enhance our independence as we learn to do things for ourselves, like
tie our own shoes, choose our own clothes and take care of our bathroom
needs. When we are able to cross the
monkey bars with confidence and are eager to learn to read and write we move
on.
First Life – Learning Through
Exploration
Our minds
grow as we listen to more stories, identify words, and begin to read
independently. We learn to form our
letters and keep journals in which we record what we have learned in words and
pictures. We manipulate numbers and categorize things. Our classroom includes the woods, gullies and
nearby bay. What we learn about depends
upon our interests which are subject to change at any time. Our teachers give us the tools we need, such
as shovels, buckets, computers and microscopes. We do scientific experiments,
form hypotheses and test them. Our bodies are ready to play simple games and we
run, skip and dance with ease. We learn
to negotiate and work together cooperatively.
Our spirits soar as we learn about folk dances, work with clay and build
things with our hands. We till the soil,
plant our gardens and learn to prepare the foods we grow. We take lots of field trips and broaden our
definition of the world around us.
Second Life – Learning Through
Experimentation
As our
brains develop we transition from concrete thinking to more abstract concepts,
usually between ages 8 and 9. We form
our own opinions separate from those of our parents or teachers and learn how
to express ourselves and our opinions while maintaining respect for those who
might think differently. Our world
expands and we become aware of different cultures. We learn how to use reference materials. We solve problems, plant gardens, cook our own
meals and read independently. We read
our first chapter books and the tiny muscles in our hands are strong enough for
us to write and draw with confidence. We
plan more elaborate projects, develop lists of materials and budgets and build
things meant to last. We run with
confidence and learn the rules of simple games and the importance of working
cooperatively with others. We throw pots
on the wheel, make mosaics and write our own stories and plays. We start developing a sense of morality and
ethics and realize that our actions reflect ourselves and our character.
Third Life – Learning Through
Examination
