Alexander Dawson School - Academic Life

Welcome to Dawson Lower School, which includes students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Our prime objective is to nurture all aspects of a child's development and provide attention to the intellectual, social, emotional, artistic, and physical dimensions of each child. The academic program provides the opportunity for each child to discover the joy of learning and the pleasure of life-long pursuits - intellectual, cultural, and physical. Opportunities for growth in personal and academic education are available in a program that includes the “Three Rs” as well as foreign language, computer, theatrical programs, science, social studies, and many cross-grade interactions that include students from other divisions of Dawson School.

The School actively seeks a partnership with each child's family, based on mutual respect, trust and open communication. It is our hope that parents and their children will enjoy the educational experience and community life in this environment. The process of education is an on-going, 24-hour a day process that is shared by the home and the school. By combining the resources of the family and the school, and exchanging and sharing of information, students realize the full benefit of a Dawson education.
By its nature, the Lower School strives to promote the following beliefs in our educational program:

The school environment serves as a powerful educational influence.
Each child plays an active role in constructing knowledge through his or her exploration, self-expression, and social interaction.
Becoming a valued member of the community means developing honesty, integrity, loyalty, compassion, and a general strength of character.
A relationship between the School and local resources - such as museums and experts in various fields - is emphasized.

The Lower School gives each student opportunities to develop self-confidence and worth, respect for others, and a sense of belonging to and being a responsible member of a community outside their own family.

Kindergarten Overview

The kindergarten curriculum at Dawson is a Montessori based program that educates the child in reading, writing, science, mathematics, social studies, the arts and music. The emphasis is on beginning at each child’s present developmental level and continuing from that point to develop skills that will carry the child forward in his/her academic progress. Children participate in a variety of classroom activities as a whole group, in small groups and individually. The curriculum also provides for social and emotional development by emphasizing appropriate ways to function in a classroom community, as well as within the whole school community. Both formal and informal interactions with other students in the Lower School create the opportunity for each child to develop a sense of him/herself as an integral part of a larger group.

First Grade Overview

Reading, writing, and math are the core of the first grade curriculum. Reading and writing are blended together through assignments, projects, and teacher instruction. The math curriculum emphasizes the ability to think through the math concepts while challenging the children to build their "fact power" and ability to apply the concepts to everyday situations. Science and social studies are integrated into the curriculum throughout the day and in as many lessons as possible. The activities are designed to build independence, confidence, and a joy for learning. In developing the individual lessons, each child's level of learning is taken into account and a variety of texts, materials, and experiences are used to take each child to the next level. Fluency in reading and math is a goal for all. Interest in and a love for learning are a gift given to all.

Second Grade Overview

Second grade students enter a world of learning to become “independent” thinkers and workers! This achievement is done through building much self-esteem and self-confidence in each individual as they move away from being so dependent on others and become self-reliant individuals. The students develop a true “love” of reading that encompasses the structure and base of all learning. The students’ reading program becomes personalized and individualized and monitored for continual growth and strength. In addition, the students begin experiencing all aspects of comprehension as they experience all genres of literature. Writing skills are reinforced through each child’s creativity as they learn to share and publish their own work. Problem solving and critical thinking skills in math are reinforced with many hands-on activities along with learning the basic math facts, the foundation of mathematical achievement. Students are offered the opportunity to learn skills and to acquire scientific attitudes and habits of mind. They spend a lot of time observing, measuring, and identifying properties as they explore, reflect, and apply strategies. Students learn the magic discovery between the difference of “physical” and “chemical” changes. “Spontaneous science” through their curiosities is encouraged. Social issues learn to be managed through honest communication with one another.

Third Grade Curriculum Overview

Third grade students continue in their efforts as independent thinkers and workers through hands on challenging learning experiences. Language arts experiences come from studies in vocabulary, reading comprehension, spelling, writing, grammar, literature appreciation, listening/speaking and penmanship. Mathematics studies continue with the Everyday Mathematics series started in kindergarten. Third grade students begin to use many of the skills developed in the earlier grades for problem solving and for developing projects of their own in various thematic units of social studies and science.

Fourth Grade Overview

Fourth grade is an exciting year for students, both academically and socially. Students receive instruction in literacy, mathematics, social studies and science. Students also enjoy foreign language, physical education, art, music, and computer/library anywhere from one to four times a week. Students in the fourth grade are exposed to a variety of multidisciplinary projects that allow them to express creativity, problem solve and work cooperatively in groups. Fourth graders experience an expansion of personal freedoms and privileges thus preparing them for their middle school years.