Elementary
At Delmar Arts Academy, we integrate the HighScope Elementary Approach into our teaching, which is built on the foundation of Active Learning. Our educational programs, offered for Kindergarten, First, and Second grade, boast an average class size of 6-12 children, allowing personalized attention for optimal student learning.
Active Learning Framework
The Active Learning framework consists of five key components that our teachers integrate into their instructional design:
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Materials, People, and Ideas: Utilization of diverse resources.
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Interaction: Engagement with materials, people, and ideas.
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Student Choice and Shared Control: Students partake in decision-making.
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Communication: Students articulate their thoughts.
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Adult Support: Teachers provide support for optimal learning.
Early Kindergarten
Dual Language
Conscious Discipline
Dance, Drama, Music Visual Arts & Yoga
After identifying the learning goals and the student's stage of learning, each component of Active Learning is employed to guide the instructional design.
The Learning Environment
Our environment significantly contributes to student achievement. Teachers model and expect respect, creating a positive and loving atmosphere throughout the school. The physical environment is designed to support active learning with designated areas for individual, small group, and large group work. Classrooms are organized, well-lit, and feature a 15,000 square foot playground. Additionally, student-created work is displayed throughout the school, reinforcing a sense of achievement and pride.
The Daily Schedule
A consistent and predictable daily schedule, with room for flexibility, is key to making children comfortable. The day begins and ends with a whole-class meeting, fostering a sense of community. Time is allocated for Plan-Do-Review (PDR), large group "mini" lessons, small group work, and individual work. During PDR, students take control of their learning, planning, executing, and reflecting on their activities. Teachers provide support tailored to each student's developmental level. This approach ensures individualized attention across all grade levels and promotes active engagement in fulfilling learning goals.
Adults as Facilitators of Learning
The teacher-student relationship is a crucial predictor of achievement and learning. A fair, empathetic, and trustworthy classroom climate encourages students to take risks and make mistakes, fostering an openness to learning. Teachers share control, allowing students to make decisions and solve problems, viewing these as learning opportunities. A growth mindset is encouraged through specific feedback, and students are supported in setting and assessing their own goals. Effective teachers build on students' existing knowledge, scaffold when necessary, and continually assess and adjust their instructional design to optimize learning outcomes.
HighScope and Reading
The HighScope methodology is ideal for developing reading and writing skills, as it integrates all components of English Language Arts (ELA) into active learning experiences. Reading is intertwined with speaking, listening, writing, visual-graphics, and digital media. Teachers support and scaffold each child's learning, creating a language-rich environment with labels, word walls, personal dictionaries, anchor charts, and songbooks. Daily read-aloud sessions foster a love for reading and develop comprehension skills and deeper thinking. Students are taught to assess themselves, and progress is monitored using an assessment tool. This helps identify students who may require additional support or more challenging work.
More About Our High Scope Elementary Program
Our program combines the arts, integrated and active learning, project-based learning, and individualized and small group scenarios, with Spanish immersion and Conscious Discipline as major components. The Science lab is regularly used for experiments, encouraging children to question their environment, identify problems, and explore and observe to draw conclusions about real-life scenarios. Our small classroom sizes facilitate personalized teaching across various ability levels.
