Red Oak Curriculum
Our curriculum draws from the latest research findings combined with our experience working with ROCS students over the years. The curriculum is inherently adaptable, continuously evolving to cater to the needs and interests of our students, contemporary events, and the enthusiastic pursuits of our educators. Each curriculum’s scope and sequence is crafted by the educator teaching the class. Consequently, our scope and sequences also remain by design - flexible, consistently growing and enhancing over time.
Our curriculum goals at Red Oak are to introduce content that:
will 'spark' enthusiasm
encourages curiosity & a quest for learning
respects that kids can handle difficult topics
broadens their perspective of the world
allows students to actively participate in the selection of material (...is guided by students)
is contemporary and responsive to the needs/interests of the students
To offer the content in a way that:
creates students who self-identify as learners
encourages students to question content (information literacy) and the authority of its source (media literacy)
models curiosity & allows kids to wonder and ask questions
empowers students to take academic risks
gives students confidence to make mistakes and learn from them
make students feel valued as learners and community members
encourages students to be self-motivated learners (educational initiative)
develops collaboration and cooperation as students actively/authentically work with others
To prepare learners to be able to:
think critically & form their own opinions
step outside of their comfort zone to solve problems
know how to locate resources to find an answer
School-Wide Social Emotional Learning Approach
Taking advantage of natural learning opportunities throughout each day
Staff available anytime to support students
Cultural mindset across all staff - All behaviors are communication! When students can do well, they will!
LEARNING AREAS-
Self-awareness
Identify emotions in your body
Develop confidence in identity & beliefs
Regulation
Recognition of dysreglation & learning regulation strategies
Relationships
Learn how to be a good friend & navigate conflict
Advocacy
Stand up for oneself
Give and respect consent
Growth Mindset
Learn to take risks, fail, learn from mistakes and try again
Blog posts- Chairs Come in All Shapes and Sizes, Relationships still rule at ROCS, Welcome Back to ROCS with SEL
During outdoor learning times, we have:
TWO outside learning times per school day
60min of kid-structured, outside learning = Better academic outcomes!
Staff actively support learning
LEARNING AREAS-
Physical Health
Muscle development & vestibular input
Appropriate risk-taking opportunities
Decision-Making
When is play unsafe? How to adjust.
Setting and respecting boundaries
Leadership & Group Dynamics
Organize play & navigate conflict
Problem Solving
Developing new iterations of unsuccessful ideas
Resiliency
Navigating social exclusion
Handling disappointment with grace
Blog posts- It’s Not Recess, Snow Edition
In our Kindergarten class, we have:
Multi-sensory explorations
Age appropriate expectations
Movement & choices during class:
Freedom to move around the classroom
Body check-ins & body breaks
A literacy focus:
Science of reading approach
Rich language environment
Kids should be heard! - plenty of opportunities for discussions
Hands on math curriculum including Wild Math, Mindset Mathematics & Math for Love
Art & science are highly valued as vital pieces to reading/language skill development
Wonder! Curiosity! Exploration! Joy in learning!
Blog posts by our ECE Educator- Buttons of Inspiration; Studying Aminah Robinson, Plant It and They Will Come, Citizen Scientists: Great Backyard Bird Count, Our Chickadees Love Bees
In our English Language Arts classes, we have:
High-quality, research based & effective curriculum using a Science of Reading approach:
Phonemic Awareness
Phonics
Vocabulary
Fluency
Comprehension
Low stress assessments
No grades! No tests! Just learning!
Students progressing along their own growth curve
A focus on identifying and supporting learning disabilities EARLY
Age-appropriate social justice lessons
Anti-racist curriculum
Kindess, respect & inclusivity
Developmentally appropriate discussions
Joy and laughter in the classroom
Blog posts from our ELA Educator- Kindness Cards: A ROCS Approach to V-Day, Reading Beyond the Thanksgiving Myth, Teaching Social Justice at Red Oak: A Three-Year Review, The Magic of Read Aloud
In our Math classes, we have:
Effective, research-based, growth mindset curriculum
Jo Boaler, Mindset Mathematics & Math for Love
Inquiry-based learning
What do I wonder? What do I notice?
Movement opportunities & brain breaks
Safe spaces where mistakes are CELEBRATED
Flexibility to follow students’ interests
Deep thinking!
Real world problem-solving
A focus on the mathematical process, not the product
In our e-STEM classes, we have:
Curriculum driven by students’ interests, not standards
Problem-solving! Hands on experiments!
Emphasis on design process and making mistakes
Tangible experiences - instead of worksheets
Curriculum connections with local natural communities and environmental impacts
Citizen science projects!
Science class EVERY SCHOOL DAY
Blog posts from our Science Educator- Learning to Fly, Parents as Teachers: Collaborators in Curriculum, Citizen Scientists; Monitoring Macroinvertebrates
In our Arts & Culture classes, we have:
Student-centered, curated lessons
Based in elements of art and principles of design
Lessons connect to local community
Incorporating arc of social justice
Explorations of students’ sense of self and their place in the world
Inquiry based discussions
Studies about contemporary, underrepresented artists
Cultural experiences
Guest speakers from the community
Artist residencies
Blog posts from our Art & Culture Educator- A Show of Artists
Learn more about our artist partnership program with Community Refugee & Immigration Services-
