The following is an overview of core curriculum components being implemented at the Weilenmann School of Discovery:
Lower School Language Arts
The classroom library is a critical aspect of the physical environment in all grade levels. Developing a lifelong love and passion for reading is the ultimate goal.
K-2 Reading is a balanced literacy program, built around a structure of small and flexible grouping. Children find authentic and valuable purposes for reading. All students receive instruction in Wilson Fundations.
3-5 Reading invites student independence in reading and promotes inquiry. Skills and strategies that provide focus for instruction are more complex than in the Primary grades, and the texts that students read are more challenging. Novels incorporate content in history that allow for cross-curricular connections.
Lower School Grammar
During the primary grades, students build the skills necessary for understanding the principles of grammar and sentence structure. Intermediate grades use a sentence-composing approach that provides understanding of the structure of good sentences, with activities to learn, practice, and use grammatical tools.
Lower School/Middle School Writing
To refine and master the skill of writing, students are trained in the Six Traits Writing Model, a program used by all teachers in Grades 1-8. Students write daily in a variety of forms, and with experiences that build not only the skill, but also the enjoyment, of writing.
Middle School English
Students cultivate a love of reading through a broad exposure to multiple genres and media, and the active manipulation of words and sentence structure in writing and speech. A primary objective is the fostering of personal, social, and civic literacy by exposing students to a variety of ways to communicate and by requiring students to, in turn, communicate in a variety of ways, including oral language, written language, and media/technology.
Lower School/Middle School Math
Weilenmann uses the McGraw-Hill Math Connects vertically aligned curriculum series, which provides an articulated, coherent sequence of content throughout each year of study. It ensures that content standards are introduced, reinforced, and assessed and that instruction is targeted to student needs and national standards. It is a balanced approach of real-world applications, hands-on labs, direct instruction, writing exercises, higher-order thinking, and practice that enables students to develop both conceptual understanding and procedural knowledge. Back-mapping is used to work back from the goal of success in Algebra and beyond to the concepts and skills needed at each grade level to accomplish this goal. In addition to this program, technology use enhances scaffolding of curriculum, build algorithmic skills, and support individualized instruction. Additional resources are used to support problem-solving strategies and application.
Lower School/Middle School Science
Students benefit from a multi-sensory approach to learning. Students develop an understanding of the nature and methodology of science as well as scientific principles, and receive guided instruction in important scientific concepts. Students perform experiments, use technology and participate in field studies and individual projects. The Utah state core curriculum is followed for science; students explore the life, earth and physical sciences in each grade.
Middle School History
Students explore wide varieties of historical data, evaluate primary and secondary sources, critically assess conflicting interpretations, describe complex societies and events in terms of historical categories, learn to draw and articulate historical conclusions, and make scholarly judgments about ideas and events both past and current.
- 6th Grade: World History Course
- 7th Grade Civics and Utah History Course
- 8th Grade American History, Part I
Lower School/Middle School Art
Students enjoy learning about and creating art in a nurturing and stimulating environment. Major components involve a) learning to see, b) learning technique, c) learning context (art history) and, d) learning to express one’s self. Once students have mastered basic techniques, experimentation and innovation are encouraged. The goal of the program is for students to find and hone their own voice and vision through personal expression and understanding of the creative process.
Lower School/Middle School Music
Children achieve knowledge of and tone on the instrument of their choice to foster life-long learning, balance in life, and a positive relationship with earth and all creatures. The beauty of the string tone directly links to the beauty of their own voices and develops connection to the vibrations of thoughts, sounds, light, color and touch. Choir classes further vocal technique in unison and two-part singing, and in voice-to-voice instruction with accompaniment. Options for advancement in the Middle School include choral ensembles, a strings orchestra, and a woodwinds/brass band.
Technology Integration
Our vision is to support students as they discover the power of their own potential – to learn, innovate, and change the world. Key to this strategy is developing Master Teachers who design and enact inquiry-based instruction by integrating technologies into the core curriculum. Key components include:
- Integrating technologies, media, science, visual and performing arts into the core curriculum,
- Using NWEA Testing and Assessment Software that provides detailed, actionable data about where each child is on their unique learning path,
- On-going evaluation and improvement of technology integration.