Curriculum
PRESCHOOL
Ages 3-4
Gig Harbor Academy's preschool is designed to provide a positive, nurturing environment to promote the social-emotional, physical, and intellectual growth of young children. Our one-of-a-kind approach creates a secure environment, which allows creativity to blossom and encourages students to develop independence and critical thinking skills. The goal of our preschool program is to provide each child with a variety of learning experiences guided by our enthusiastic teachers and specialists who recognize that children learn in unique and various ways. These experiences will ultimately provide each preschool student with the strong foundation that can provide strength and direction for a lifetime. Preschool students see our Art, Music and Spanish specialists weekly.
KINDERGARTEN PREP
Ages 4-5
GHA's Kindergarten Prep program introduces and develops basic academic skills in reading, language arts, printing, writing, and arithmetic. Because students learn in a variety of ways, various methods are used to teach these concepts with manipulatives (blocks, beads, counting bears), pictures, music and puppets. Critical thinking skills are encouraged, and new concepts and techniques are presented sequentially. To encourage social-emotional development students interact both in small groups and as a whole with their classmates. To balance the program, teachers use centers (special locations set up around the room for different activities, games and puzzles each designed to reinforce different skills and concepts), role-playing, dance and free-reading time to keep students excited about learning and engaged in their surroundings. Kindergarten Prep students see our Art, Music, Spanish and Health specialists weekly.
Our experience has shown that initial appropriate placement is the key to educational success; therefore, great care is taken to ascertain the developmental readiness of each child.
KINDERGARTEN
Our Kindergarten program is like no other! With 2 full-time certified teachers, students get the one-on-one instructional learning time they really need at this pivotal age. Reading and writing, math, science and social skills are the focus in this class along with emotional growth and development. Using our new cutting edge phonics program, students are able to develop fluency and confidence in oral reading with speed and precision. A variety of writing techniques are introduced and implemented throughout the year including creative and expository composition. In arithmetic, hands-on activities reinforce skills such as graphing, mapping, and addition. Students begin learning the scientific method and journaling as they work through challenging science experiments. Hands-on activities are used daily to reinforce new concepts and third grade buddies come into the classroom weekly to mentor and assist the Kindergarteners in various projects. Kindergarten students see our Art, Music, Spanish, Health and Technology specialist weekly.
FIRST GRADE
First grade is a year of firsts! For the first time they begin receiving light homework, learning research skills as they prepare for their first biography presentation, and begin practicing vocabulary words for weekly spelling tests. The core academic program focuses on reading, composition, grammar, spelling, mathematics, science and social studies. Students practice all of these skills as they study ancient Egypt, lighthouses and the life cycle and history of apples. Imagery is taught through reading and writing and students use a variety of exercises to learn how to add details to their writing to create a visual picture for their reader. First grade students see our Art, Music, Spanish, PE/Health and Technology specialists weekly.
SECOND GRADE
The Second Grade experience builds on the First Grade curriculum through review, reinforcement, and introduction of new concepts in all subject areas. Second Graders strengthen independent work habits and personal responsibility as they work independently, in small group or large group activities. These activities help them to develop the foundation of study and research skills which will enable them to become confident and secure in their own abilities. Reading, writing and speaking skills are integrated into daily activities through personal journaling, reflecting on new concepts, and recording observations from science experiments. The History of Flight and Space Exploration are a big part of Second Grade. Students are able to share and expand their knowledge as they participate in an amazing overnight experience at “The Museum of Flight” in Seattle. Students also participate in Writer's Workshop, a creative writing program that advances thinking and composition skills. The second grade biography unit integrates research, writing and art skills as students research their favorite artist, work with our Art teacher to reproduce artwork in the style of their artist, and write a report based on their research. They participate for the first time in Biography Night with their Gallery Opening, displaying their work for family and friends. These experiences prepare students for, and provide the link to, the Third Grade curriculum.
THIRD GRADE
The development of self-reliance, responsibility, organizational skills, and independent work habits is a major focus of Third Grade. The primary academic goals are to achieve mastery of the basic facts of multiplication and division, language skills, and cursive handwriting. The Third Grade curriculum further develops writing skills with the continued study of the formal paragraph. For example, as the year progresses, students use Kidspiration in tech class to write a 30-page mystery novel. The maturity of their writing also progresses as students begin to learn about anticipation and perspective in writing through unique classroom exercises such as a mock trial. Students learn reference skills by using encyclopedias and other resources as they independently research. These reports are presented during GHA's Biography Night in the Third Grades "Night Of The Living Museum". Students gain confidence in this independence through step-by-step checklists taught and monitored by their teacher.
FOURTH GRADE
In Fourth Grade, the development of responsibility, self-reliance, organizational skills, critical thinking, and independent work habits is further emphasized. In accordance with these skills, students will benefit from enriching math, social studies, and language arts programs to include the organization of an in-class mock UN. The three-day class trip to the Olympic Parks Institute is a highlight of the school year and an amazing opportunity for students to study science and to build strong relationships.
FIFTH GRADE
The Fifth Grade curriculum is designed to prepare students for Middle School. The core homeroom provides the guidance and security that young adolescents need as they are encouraged to be independent in the preparation and completion of their assignments. Academic work at this grade level becomes more challenging and comprehensive, and assists students in developing study habits that allow them to become more efficient and successful in their academic work. The end of the year trip to Williamsburg, VA to study colonial history, completes the year and sends students off to middle school with a strong academic and social foundation that can aid them in pursuing their goals in middle school and beyond.