NVA
incorporates best practices from current, widely respected educational
theory in order to continually refine its curriculum. Some of the
features of our program include:
- High priority on academics above all.
- Individualized
reading programs. Rather than all children at a given grade level
reading the same material at once, our children move forward as quickly
as they like.
- Tailored
mathematics programs. Children in the same grade have many different
levels of math, and extra help or new challenges are provided by
additional faculty members.
- Mix
of traditional and progressive teaching methodologies. Some lessons at
NVA are taught traditionally with tried and true methodologies (such as
phonics and math facts) whereas other subjects involve open-ended
inquiry, projects and multi-media.
- Technology skills and applications are incorporated into the school day in a one-to-one student to laptop program.
- Students
are required to demonstrate 100% mastery of a skill before they move
on. Testing is done in a separate classroom. If a student has not
achieved mastery, he or she is gently re-taught until ready to move on.
- Mastery
can be tested traditionally with pen and paper, but often we prefer to
have children demonstrate their understanding by creating models.
- Purpose and application of knowledge is stressed. We ask, “How would you use what you just read in your life?”
- We teach children how to study and how to recognize in themselves when they aren’t learning and how to get back on track.
- We
emphasize that children look up the words they don’t know in the
dictionary as opposed to looking for context clues right away. They
then learn exactly what words mean as opposed to “sort of” what words
mean.
- We
teach children concepts whenever possible with the actual object –
right there to see and touch. If this is not possible we use other
visuals.
- Both high performance and creativity are encouraged and nurtured.
- Students
have Physical Education for one hour daily in a vigorous and fun
program that develops strength, flexibility and balance, along with
learning sports.
- Students
take the CTP-4 standardized test (from the Educational Records Bureau
and designed to be used in private schools) twice a year for curriculum
development and program refinement.
- We
serve an organic, balanced, sugar-free, low-fat breakfast and lunch
each day to all of our students. There is a no-sugar policy at the
school.
- We
teach our children to be leaders – to
reflect on the choices they make and actions they take for themselves.
- In
addition to our core academic literacy and mathematics programs, our
students are exposed to a wide range of curricular areas. These fields
are: Living Skills, Spanish, Dance/Performing Arts, Science, Physical
Education, Karate, Yoga, Communications, Social Studies, Leadership
Development, Music, Robotics, Technology, Etiquette, and Art.
- Curriculum
aligns with California State Standards; however students work a
baseline grade level above in reading, writing and mathematics.
- We
stress a partnership with parents that requires parents to ensure that
their children come to school on time, in addition to being well-rested
and well-fed. Also stressed is that television time be limited.
- A longer school day (ends at 4 p.m.) means less homework and more family time in the evening.
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