Curriculum

Early Childhood Program

WDA’s curriculum for students ages three through eight years old takes into consideration the unique physical, cognitive, social, and emotional levels of growth and development of young children. In accordance with recognized best practices for early childhood programs, there is plenty of time for sustained play, and for interactions and collaborations with peers. WDA teachers provide an environment that is rich in opportunities for intellectual and personal growth. The curriculum in language arts, mathematics, science and social studies is designed to establish a solid foundation of concrete understanding for later learning. For example, students age three to five years old do extensive work with a variety of pattern forms, which gives them a tactile and sensory basis for later work with the abstract symbolic patterns embedded in algebra. As students display an interest in focused work on letters or numbers, the teachers are ready with interesting and challenging activities.

Literacy and Language Arts

Younger students begin their literacy journey in a rich environment of language experiences including songs, poems, stories and rhymes. Pre-reading activities in the younger classes include writing songs and rhymes on chart paper for group reading, dramatizing favorite stories, and dictating words about drawings and paintings to the teacher. Letter/sound correlations are emphasized and students use this phonetic knowledge as they begin to decode written words. Teachers work individually with students who are learning to read and write, and adapt their teaching approaches to each student’s learning style and developmental level. Personal journal projects, quiet reading, teacher read-aloud, library time, and partnering with older “reading buddies” from the upper grades all encourage enthusiastic readers and writers.

Older students develop the skills of comprehension, interpretation, and analysis through literature discussion. The writing program focuses on editing, revising, and publishing students’ personal writing. The six writing traits of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) are used to help students develop their writing in a variety of genres including stories, essays, letters, and reports. When WDA students graduate, they can read and discuss sophisticated texts, conduct research in libraries and on the Internet, and communicate their ideas effectively.

Math

In our technologically complex world it is essential that students can understand and apply mathematical concepts and processes. Math instruction at WDA is based on national and state standards for teaching mathematics and emphasizes five areas:

1) computation and procedures 2)problem solving 3)mathematical reasoning 4)communication of mathematical ideas 5)exploration of mathematical connectionsExperiences with concrete materials and problem solving situations are used to discover and illustrate the fundamental concepts, principles, and processes involved in mathematical thinking. We foster each student’s confidence in working with numbers, and we promote an appreciation for the far-reaching impact of mathematics in our daily lives.

Science

Our overriding goal in the science curriculum is to open the eyes and minds of our students to the varied and fascinating world around them. In addition to an understanding of scientific content and concepts, we want our students to be able to understand and apply scientific thought processes. To that end, the curriculum is multidisciplinary and experientially based. WDA stresses active engagement in our students with learning experiences that allow them to make personal sense of the world around them and to solve realistic problems.

Intermediate and Middle School students conduct their own Inquiry Projects each year. As they progress, students select, design, conduct, analyze and report on increasingly sophisticated scientific questions. In addition, students learn the core concepts and principles of Life, Earth System, Space, Chemistry and Physical Sciences, as well as the interconnectedness among these discipline areas.

Social Studies

In order to create a meaningful world concept, children need to begin with what they know best and build their understandings from experience. WDA’s social studies curriculum begins with the daily details of students’ lives at home and in the classroom, and builds from there to knowledge of a larger world. As students move through the curriculum, they are introduced to a broader scope of information and more complex social ideas. Overall, the emphasis is on research skills and understanding cultural and social evolution rather than merely learning names and dates. Art, music, writing, model-building, field trips, cooking, time lines, mapping, reading, and personal interviews are all incorporated as part of a multifaceted approach to studying our world’s cultures and their histories.

Spanish Instruction

All students attend Spanish class. In the younger classes Spanish is introduced through songs, games, and stories. As students progress there is an increasing emphasis on vocabulary and conversation skills. The older students work on reading, writing, and grammar.

Physical Education

A physical education teacher works with WDA students three times a week. Activities may include dance, yoga, running, hula hoops, juggling and more traditional sports activities like basketball, softball and soccer. The emphasis is on habits of fitness, health, sportsmanship, team play, coordination and balance.

The Arts

The study of the arts fosters perceptual awareness, cognitive processes, and the ability to recognize and appreciate aesthetic beauty. The arts also offer opportunities for the expression of emotions and thoughts, and for observing and learning about the world. We want these opportunities and experiences to be a part of our students’ daily lives. Our study of the arts encompasses music, drawing, painting, mixed media, quilting, computer graphics, and performing arts. Students also enjoy regular field trips to attend cultural events in the community.

Technology

WDA has a strong technology program integrated into the curriculum. Our teachers help students make use of technology to read, write, communicate, conduct research, collaborate, solve problems, and think critically. Older students have access to computers to conduct academic research via the Internet, and to create multi-media presentations as a part of their class work.

High School Credit

Students who demonstrate readiness and commitment may earn high school credit while at WDA. Credits are possible in Grade 9 English, Algebra 1 and Geometry, with Spanish expected to be available soon. It is also possible for eligible students to achieve advanced placement in science when they register for high school.