Curriculum
The Phoenix Ranch School’s elementary curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and a love for learning. We place a strong emphasis on core subjects like math, language arts, science, and social studies, ensuring that students develop a solid academic foundation. Our hands-on, project-based activities further encourage exploration and discovery.
Learn more about the different facets of our curriculum below.
Language Arts
Children progress through our program from learning essential reading and writing skills in kindergarten to finishing elementary school writing in all forms, such as persuasive, narrative, research papers, and poetry, and understanding fundamental essential reading strategies, such as inference, generalization, summarizing, character development, nonfiction, and essential questioning. Our lower elementary students utilize the "Superkids" curriculum, which integrates reading, spelling, handwriting, grammar, and composition into one program. Taught through exciting and unique characters, children are continually engaged in the activities, making language learning fun.
In upper elementary, we continue working on these critical areas by applying them to our curriculum through research papers, oral presentations, problem analysis, and more.
Mathematics
Here at Phoenix Ranch, we follow the "Singapore Math" curriculum, a system of learning in which adult supervision and independent practice go hand in hand. Students are provided with the necessary learning experiences, beginning with the concrete and pictorial stages and followed by the abstract stage, to enable them to learn mathematics meaningfully. This approach encourages an active thinking process, communication of mathematical ideas, and problem-solving, which helps develop the foundation students will need for more advanced mathematics.
Science
By teaching our students how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines intersect, they come to understand the functioning of a system as a whole. Even in our younger grades, we look at big ideas, such as simple machines, construction, weather and sound/vibration and experiment with multi-disciplinary concepts to give our students a well-rounded education.
The world of scientific discovery is brought to life for our young learners through many hands-on experiences, such as raising baby chicks, overseeing the growth of our garden, and conducting many laboratory experiments.
Spanish
Our Spanish program seeks to teach children fundamental Spanish language skills and introduce them to the traditions and heritage of cultures so crucial to the fabric of our region. Our program is aligned with the five goals of the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning: communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and community. We utilize storytelling techniques to give our students a more enjoyable learning experience with optimal participation.
Students in the lower elementary grades (TK-2) begin with introductory Spanish. We aim to build a strong vocabulary foundation through a teaching approach called Total Physical Response (TPR). We engage our students in movement activities to reduce inhibitions and lower stress, which can be expected when learning a new language.
Our upper elementary students work to master Spanish I and II. Here, we stress the importance of communicating with other people in our community and understanding their various cultures. To do so, we supplement our classroom instruction with field trips to Olvera Street and Pupuseria El Clavel, where students can immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture.