Academics

Constructivist Learning

The students are engaged daily in a student-centered, relevant and rigorous learning environment. Through the research-based constructivist approach to instruction, students assume an active, hands-on role in their own learning, and teachers guide them in the development of higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills.

Language Arts

The language arts block at the Neighborhood Charter School reflects a literacy program that encourages a balance of oral language, reading, and writing while focusing on explicit and direct instruction in letters and words and how they work. Children will be instructed with reading and writing strategies that will enable them to use literacy for a variety of purposes. Initially, children will be given high levels of teacher support for reading and writing with a gradual release from that support to promote independence when they are ready. Ongoing, systematic assessment will be used to guide instructional needs of individuals and to document student progress over time.

Mathematical Program

The math curriculum and materials adopted is "Investigations in Number, Data and Space." This second edition has a greater focus on number and operations, i.e. computation, while continuing to stress deep conceptual understanding of mathematical content. "Investigations" is the K-5 curriculum developed under a grant from the National Science Foundation. The curriculum is based on the standards developed by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). These standards guide curriculum and instruction nationwide. “Investigations” covers all of the mathematics content outlined in the standards, along with a focus on:

  • Student developed strategies and approaches
  • Written and verbal math expression
  • Use of concrete materials
  • Family involvement

For those parents/guardians who are interested, additional information may be found at www.TERC.com/investigations and www.NCTM.org/standards.

Integrated Curriculum

The Neighborhood Charter School's year long environmental themes are designed to offer in-depth explorations that effectively weave science, social studies and health together. By integrating these subject areas in ways that compliment the main grade level theme, students will understand the natural connections that are part of our world. It is our belief that students must understand these connections in order to be effective stewards of the environment. The curriculum uses basic scientific concepts as its focus. The theme serves as an organizing concept for the skills and knowledge expected each year. Both the Georgia QCC's and the national professional standards are incorporated into the grade level themes. In order to stay congruent with the new Georgia Standards, these year-long themes have been revised for the 2008-2009 academic year. The themes for each grade level are:

  • Kindergarten: Me, My Role, My Responsibility
  • First: Cycles – My Backyard
  • Second: Change and Adaptation
  • Third: Interdependence/Cause and Effect
  • Fourth: Survival
  • Fifth: Evidence and Responsibility

Related Arts Program

In addition to our academic program, the Neighborhood Charter School has an extensive related arts program. These classes are also constructivist in their structure and child centered in their program. During the related arts curriculum night families will be introduced to the scope of these programs. Each child at the Neighborhood Charter School will have art and music once a week, physical education twice a week, and Spanish twice a week.  In addition to these scheduled classes, teachers have the opportunity to plan with the related arts teachers special projects related to their classroom. These special projects might be with the class as a whole or in a small group setting.

Library / Media Center

The Neighborhood Charter School Library Media Center provides an information center for the school community. Through collaboration with classroom teachers, the media specialist provides information literacy skills instruction to all students in order to promote independent learning, research, and reading. The media center is open from 7:30am until dismissal, and operates on a flexible schedule that allows users access to resources and services at any time during the regular school day. Kindergarten classes have a regularly scheduled weekly visit to the media center.

Technology

Technology will be used as a learning tool throughout our school. Computer access and internet connectivity is available to the students on a daily basis. Computers are available in the Media Center through desktop machines and in the classrooms with laptops and desktops. In addition to computers, a complete array of other forms of technology is available for instructional purposes.

Home Enrichment Activities

The students of the Neighborhood Charter School are actively engaged in learning throughout the school day. As an extension of the day, home enrichment activities may be assigned to the students. Such activities may require students to complete activities such as spending time reading at home, doing formal or informal research, or working on a long term project. These sorts of activities support the constructivist learning theory and curriculum, extend a child's learning and are most meaningful to the students.

Students with Exceptional Needs / Gifted / Talented Instruction at the Neighborhood Charter School

All students of the Neighborhood Charter School will have equal opportunities to develop their gifts and talents in the regular classroom within the student-centered constructivist curricula. To the greatest extent possible, gifted and talented students will be integrated into the regular classrooms where differentiated, enriched, compacted, and/or accelerated instruction will provide optimal learning opportunities for academically diverse learners.

Special Education

The Special Education program will operate on an inclusion model whenever possible, keeping students with their respective classes as appropriate. We operate on the premise that all students can learn at high levels and will make every attempt to strengthen any academic weakness(es) in any of our students. We will have a proactive plan in operation to minimize placements into Special Education. When a student is identified through past performance, teacher observation, or other avenues as needing additional assistance, an intervention plan will be developed by the appropriate teachers and parents. The Student Support Team (SST) has been established and will meet on a regular basis to ensure that strategies developed for students are being implemented. For students who already have existing Individual Education Plans (IEP's), those plans will be reviewed and revised as necessary, and implemented completely.

The Reporting System

As a part of our curriculum and instruction the staff has developed a reporting system that reflects the constructivist learning theory and supports the manner in which our students will be engaged in learning. This system includes formal report cards that are distributed three times a year, academic progress reports sent home regularly, and conferences throughout the year.