We are an early elementary, immersive S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) school for children 3 years through 9 years old. Our early elementary campus is specifically designed for early childhood brain development. We used biomimicry and current research on the science of learning and brain development to create an entirely new school experience for children.
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1:1 reading tutoring1:1 math tutoring1:1 piano lessons |
We are an academically accelerated school that operates 12 months a year. Our proprietary curriculum reframes traditional academic goals to align with early childhood brain development. Our curriculum pulls materials, lessons, and influences from NASA, Harvard Center of the Developing Child, Illinois Math & Science Academy, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Montessori materials, Reggio Emilia, Singapore Math, and hundreds of other resources & text books.
We use the Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP) strands to assess and ensure your child is reaching their milestones and engaged in developmentally appropriate activities. We use the NWEA MAP assessments to monitor our students' progress and ensure they are internationally academically competitive. We are aligned with the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards as well as Illinois Common Core Standards. This results in children who are years ahead of grade level and love learning. |
We use an inquiry-based approach to learning with hands-on materials. Our students receive daily tutoring in math and reading, and all of our students have daily piano practice or lessons to help their brains develop a larger corpus callosum (the part of the brain that connects the 2 hemispheres). Our student teacher ratio averages 4:1. We prioritize the relationships our students have with their teacher and peers, and students learn how to work together to solve problems.
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In a typical day, students will rotate through our immersive lab spaces spread over 3,000sqft with their teacher and small group. On Wednesdays, between April - October, students spend time in Thatcher Forest Preserve for our forest-based science program. Each teacher is responsible for the lessons and projects her students are working on, and the teachers and tutors collaborate to reinforce math and reading concepts.
Our spaces include the Light Lab, Engineering Lab, Technology Lab, Art Lab, STEM Lab, Earth Science Lab, Library, Math Zone, Tutoring Pods, Music Room, and Game Zone. Within each of these areas, students are presented with challenges to teach them how to learn, ask questions, find resources, experiment, solve problems, explore, develop logic & spatial reasoning, and make connections. We practice Three Dimensional Learning and are aligned with (& exceed) the Next Generation Science Standards. Our goal is to provide your child with tangible sensory experiences to use as a foundation for abstract concepts. This concrete foundation allows your child to explore topics more deeply and build a much larger understanding of the world around them. Your child will be working on science experiments, STEM projects, math & reading tutoring, piano, art projects, and playing games every single day. |
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