Lower School

The Indian Creek Lower School begins at Pre-first and ends at Fifth Grade. In the Lower School we offer each student a learning environment that accommodates developmental and individual differences so that all of our students come to see themselves as successful learners. We seek to enhance student self-confidence through the use of a spiral curriculum which offers opportunities for exposure, application and mastery of concepts at developmentally appropriate times.

Our approach to teaching reading provides systematic, explicit phonics within a multi-sensory framework. Children move rapidly from learning to read to reading to learn. Our reading materials provide students with a variety of literature, including multicultural literature, as well as stories that educate students about various social classes and some political issues as well.

At Indian Creek, writing is a critical part of the literacy process. Starting in the early childhood years, writing is a part of each day for all lower school students where they learn to write across all content areas.

The Mathematics program reflects current NCMI standards for curriculum and assessment. Our program emphasizes problem-solving and content development at appropriate developmental stages with accommodations for the different paces at which students develop. Ability grouping starts at the third grade level so that students are given an equal footing. Having a math specialist allows for three interchangeable groupings at grades 3-5. The strengths of the Math program include the breadth and flexibility of grouping and the availability of supplies and materials needed for successful teaching.

Through the use of science, students gain knowledge of the scientific process. Our students develop an understanding of asking a question, forming a hypothesis, following procedures, gathering data, conducting appropriate tests and forming a conclusion. Through science experiences we encourage natural curiosity to help students become scientifically literate as they develop critical thinking skills and a sense of methodology in their thinking. This sensory based approach includes hands-on inquiry based activities that appeal to their natural curiosity of the world around them. Our program adopted the National Science Education Standards.

Our Social Studies program is based on the Core Knowledge curriculum. It is comprised of three strands that are expanded and extended at each grade level from kindergarten on. These strands include Geography, World History and Civilizations and United States History. In kindergarten through second grade the self-contained teacher presents the material. In the third through the fifth grades, one of the co-teachers instructs social studies for both sections while the other co-teacher teaches science. The scope of our social studies curriculum provides our students with a broad understanding of the world beyond their immediate community. Students are involved with this curriculum through direct instruction, class discussion, cooperative and peer learning and integrated projects.