WOODLANDS CLASSROOM

Lower Elementary at Roots Academy

Grades 1–2

While we have broken down the components of our curriculum below, we aim to introduce students to concepts which typically overlap several subject areas. Along with the detailed subject matter outlined below, at any given time, you will find students in our indoor and outdoor learning spaces exploring nature, place, diversity, and practicing the traits of good citizenship: kindness, compassion, and patience.

“Whether she is exploring the forest of Maine, focusing on Mindfulness, or learning with her lovely classmates, my daughter has never been happier. She has gone from surviving in school, to thriving.”

— ALLIE, Roots Parent

What does Lower Elementary at Roots Academy look like?

Central to the functioning of our community is the incorporation of Practical Life Skills. Before we dive into Academics, children are given an opportunity to get to know their physical space and begin to understand their place in it. In our classroom, practical life is deeply rooted in the daily rhythm of each day. Children are responsible for caring for plants, materials, and our shared learning space.
Our exploration of People + Places through our integrated Social Studies, Geography, and Science programming begins first with an understanding of the land and appreciation of the people indigenous to an area, rather than starting with the stories of those who arrived later. By introducing Learners to People + Places in this way, we allow students to see and appreciate them as whole first and foremost, rather then something in need of repair or recovery. In the words of Waseca Biomes Founder, Sharon Duncan: “What if the first impression children received of their world was of land and ocean, mountains and deserts, forests and grasslands, wetlands and frozen poles rather than abstract, divisive, political boundaries?” This material and mindset guides our exploration of the elements, space, continents, and biomes. Along with people, plants, and animals.

We introduce students to Mathematics using a combination of hands on tools, worksheets, and practical experiences. Capitalizing on our multi purpose space, Learners will practice concepts like addition, subtraction, measurement, and fractions by building, measuring, cooking, and observing throughout the day. We utilize both concrete manipulatives and interactive virtual programming through respected resources such as Khan Academy, Dreambox, and more.
Developing a deep appreciation of Language and Reading is central to all of our work. We believe it is not enough to be able to read and recite, but rather hope to inspire Learners with a love of communication, an understanding of how language can build bridges or create barriers, and an appreciation for a multitude of styles and genres of literature. We build on each students existing skills beginning with the use of decodable literature, opportunities for practice developing language skills using a variety of tools to support sensory integration, and support each Learner in identifying and achieving their own literacy goals. Our current curriculum draws from Waseca Biomes, Fly Leaf Publishing, and an abundance of texts spanning a multitude of genres.

Our Elementary Yoga + Mindfulness curriculum, created to encourage self awareness and community, is woven throughout each and everyday. The hope is not to have students who can “perform a pose”, but rather provide children with tools to recognize and regulate the way they are feeling in any given moment. We believe feeling confident and secure in our own bodies better enables us to meet others with the same compassion and openness. Students will gather in circle at the beginning and end of each day to greet one another, share, have a mindful moment guided by teacher or peer, and set expectations for the days learning. Regularly scheduled “brain breaks” offer students an opportunity to reflect quietly or move and engage with a variety of materials to help ground them in the present moment. Outside of our daily practices, students will participate in yoga + movement classes, both indoors and out, throughout their week.

Our Makers Space and Art area offers ample time and inspiration for creative expression. The ability to create, and express oneself freely, opens the door for sharing deeper parts of ourselves, supports problem solving, and helps to create an appreciation for all of the different voices within our class and community - both locally and globally. We utilize mediums such as water color, collage, clay, paper mache, and more to support our students understanding of all subject matter.
Tying all of the above together, is a deep respect for our community and the world around us. An introduction to the principles of Sustainability begins immediately when your child steps foot on our campus in the way we recycle, compost, garden, and use the resource we have at our disposal responsibly. Never taking more then we need, investigating nature respectfully, and being good stewards of the environment are important concepts in our Elementary Program. Outside of these daily practices on our physical campus, we invite students to put these skills and their classroom learning into action each Friday in the Field.