Everyday Mathematics
Everyday Mathematics is a program developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. It has been rigorously tested and successfully implemented in many schools throughout the United States. Unlike other math curricula, Everyday Mathematics encourages students to develop and explain their own mathematical thinking, places mathematical concepts into everyday life situations, and provides a wide range of methods for developing basic skills. For more information, please visit http://www.everydaymath.uchicago.edu
Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning
CELL is an approach to reading instruction that integrates language awareness throughout the classroom. It begins with children’s oral language and uses story telling, dialog, discussion, and games to support the acquisition of language skills. We also use Orton Gillingham/Big Ideas in Beginning Reading for phonemic awareness and phonological decoding strategies. Orton Gillingham recognizes individual learning differences and accommodates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners allowing students a high degree of success in order to make reading a happy and rewarding experience.
For more information visit: http://www.cell-exll.com and http://www.orton-gillingham.com
Handwriting Without Tears
HWT is a writing curriculum that uses multi-sensory techniques to break the process of handwriting down into a series of discrete steps. Students are taught consistent habits of letter formation and pencil grip that lead to legible and fluent handwriting. For more information visit, http://hwtears.com
“No Child Left Inside”
Dragonfly School is proud to be a founding member of the New Mexico “No Child Left Inside” Coalition, part of a national movement to connect children with the natural world. This movement is in response to research that suggests that interactions with nature provide children with a wealth of benefits that include increased mental health, better concentration, and higher levels of happiness. Much of our science instruction takes place within this context. More information is available at http://www.cnaturenet.org
Art
Beverley Crane, a gifted and highly respected teacher is our art specialist. She teaches a studio style class that emphasizes learning to use different techniques and media, positive shape and negative space, and projects using recycled materials.
Movement
Dragonfly School is extremely fortunate to have Emily Rothschild, who founded the Yoga in the Schools program, as our movement teacher. She includes games, rhythm, and dance as well as yoga postures in a fast-paced, energetic class.