Curriculum Guide 2009-2010: Lower School
Steve Bartholomew, Ed.D., Director of Lower School
Darlington’s Lower School, which serves children from pre-K through fourth grade, offers a challenging, developmentally appropriate, child-centered curriculum that is rigorous, progressive and exciting. The school emphasizes academic excellence within a safe, warm and nurturing environment. Stressing solid preparation in the fundamental academic skills of reading and phonics, writing, and math, the school maintains a commitment to the Judeo-Christian tradition while honoring all cultures and beliefs. We believe that the fundamentals of an excellent elementary education include dedicated, innovative, and energetic teachers; a carefully researched and implemented curriculum; passionate students willing to invest themselves in the total program; and involved, positive parents who are active in the life of the school.
Darlington's faculty and administrators recognize the uniqueness of each child and seek to foster this uniqueness by promoting a passion for learning, a positive self-image, and respect for others. Our Lower School students are enthusiastic about learning, thinking for themselves, working together, and gaining confidence with each passing day. The faculty is committed to staying abreast of current research, participating in targeted and specific professional development, and in visiting other exemplary schools to ensure that our curriculum at the Lower School is cutting edge and first rate. Understanding how children learn and then using brain-based learning strategies to facilitate active learning among our students are becoming the driving forces behind our teaching mission in the Lower School.
The Lower School has researched and implemented two standards-based, spiraling curriculums, Open Court Reading in grades PK-3 and Everyday Mathematics through the third grade. The fourth grade has adopted the HSP Math Program which correlates with the middle school math program. Students uncover a wide variety of topics, concepts and skills and continue to revisit them until they achieve or approach mastery. Both programs emphasize critical and creative thinking as well as problem solving. Lower School students are totally engaged in the learning process through class discussions, oral presentations, group work, centers, hands-on activities and enrichment classes. Writing is also heavily emphasized at all grade levels, beginning in pre-K. Students in grades 1-4 participate in the Darlington Writes Program through which they are assessed three times per year by means of a developmentally appropriate and challenging rubric on the process and products of their writing.
Faculty members in the Lower School are among the elite in their use of instructional technology as a curriculum complement. All of our grade-level teachers have completed rigorous training in the curricular integration of LCD projectors and SMART Boards, which are mounted in every classroom and provide significant opportunities for hands-on and interactive learning. Lower School teachers embrace the reality that technology is a powerful tool for this generation of learners, and they are using this tool in creative and exciting ways each and every day.
With worlds to explore, discoveries around endless bends, and countless challenging paths, education is like a journey. Since 1905, Darlington School has equipped young people for this journey with a proven track record in preparing its students well for life’s challenges. Visit us at the Lower School and discover how we are extending this tradition into a second century of excellence.