Elementary School Overview

We believe that children learn best when they feel safe and welcomed and that children need direct instruction in order to develop the skills necessary to be active participants in their learning. AoA Elementary students receive direct instruction in all content areas, and we actively work to develop in each student a deep-seated sense of belonging at our school.  Furthermore, the students engage in three, in-depth units in our equity studies program over the course of the year; equity studies is history taught with a social justice lens.  In addition to coursework in core, academic subjects, our students also have weekly instruction in Spanish, Music, and Physical Education.

 

Our academic program and school culture are informed by, and aligned to, an anti-bias approach.  In anti-bias education (ABE) children learn to be proud of who they are, to respect human differences, to recognize bias, and to stand up for what is right.  ABE filters into everything that we do and informs not only our social studies program but also our bi-weekly assemblies, our classroom libraries, the curriculum that we chose, how we interact with our families, and so much more.  Our graduates will leave our school with a sense of community that transcends the traditional borders of race, culture, gender, and socioeconomic status.  Through a rich social studies focus and a comprehensive approach to educating the whole child, we aim to equip all of our students with the skills and perspectives necessary to become fully engaged members of their communities.