Rainbow Mountain Elementary Program
During the elementary school years, we work to increase our students' understanding and mastery of eight essential learning skills:
- thinking and working creatively and critically
- collaborating with others
- communicating effectively
- learning independently
- using appropriate resources to access and apply knowledge
- taking risks to succeed
- creating options and making choices
- exhibiting authentic self-confidence
Our elementary program draws heavily on the Multiple Intelligences (MI) approach to engage children in the learning process. Particularly in the primary grades, MI "centers" encourage students to explore subject matter by providing a variety of ways of knowing, including linguistic, musical, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic and interpersonal intelligences.
Collaborative project-based learning allows children to develop a sense of personal competency while nurturing in them an appreciation for the value of human differences. Children learn to embrace difference as a basis for collaboration rather than something to fear or judge. Post-project reflection and self assessment helps students fully integrate what they have learned.
Early Elementary Program
First, second and third grade classrooms are adjacent and function both independently and as companion classes for multi-age learning opportunities. Our school-wide math program eliminates classroom borders to ensure each child is learning at his or her optimal level.
In the early elementary grades, children are exposed to a variety of quality literature and original source materials. They develop their writing skills through journaling and authoring their own stories in a process that includes planning, writing, revising and presenting their work. Art, music and Spanish instruction are a part of each week. And nature is the laboratory for these younger scientists.
Upper Elementary Program
Fourth grade is a dynamic transitional year that focuses on building independence as learners with a greater emphasis on individual responsibility. In this grade, the interpersonal and academic demands placed on students gradually increase. Students expand their explorations to a larger geographic context including at least one out-of-state overnight class trip.
Fourth and fifth grades serve as companion classes to provide ample opportunities for mentorship and shared learning experiences. Older children learn by teaching; younger children learn from their peers and reinforce newly acquired skills when it is their turn to teach.
In the upper elementary years, students participate in our PeaceJam curriculum, which was developed by Nobel Peace Laureates. By studying the early lives of outstanding peace advocates, students explore world cultures and effective principles of conflict resolution, leadership, and character development. Service-learning projects provide students with an opportunity to apply what they have learned for the benefit of their local community.
Project-based work deepens as students hone their reading, research, and writing skills. Reading for content is encouraged in all subject areas, and students develop critical thinking skills by finding, organizing, processing, and sharing information with their peers both orally and in writing. Art, music and Spanish continue to play an integral role in our well-rounded upper elementary program.
Classes are held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in first grade and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for grades 2 through 5. A before- and after-school program is also available.
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