OUR CURRICULUM
SPALDING
The purpose for language arts standards is to ensure that all students develop the language skills they need to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
At Strong Foundations Academy, our mission is to enhance literacy by using The Spalding Method, helping students become skilled readers, critical listeners, and accomplished writers and spellers. Spalding is a comprehensive language arts program that integrates essential research-based components, a strong educational philosophy, and a methodology built on time-tested principles of learning and instruction.
In addition, we provide daily small-group reading instruction to support personalized learning and ensure every student’s growth.
MATH
Strong Foundations Academy offers an accelerated and rigorous mathematics curriculum designed to challenge and engage our students. Our custom curriculum incorporates hands-on activities and rich mathematical discussions, ensuring that students are actively involved in the learning process. Children will explore key concepts such as numbers, addition, subtraction, place value, measurement, graphing, geometry, time, and money, all while building a strong foundation for future mathematical success.
We also focus on developing the following Mathematical Practices:
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Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
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Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
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Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
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Model with mathematics.
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Use appropriate tools strategically.
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Attend to precision.
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Look for and make use of structure.
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Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.
STEM
Young children are naturally curious, making it the perfect time to introduce them to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts.
STEM learning fosters innovation, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity, helping children grow into capable, well-rounded individuals. By making connections across different skills and concepts, children engage in the best way to learn and navigate the world around them.
At Strong Foundations Academy, our teachers act as facilitators, providing materials and opportunities for students to explore and create. We encourage collaboration as children experiment, observe, and apply critical thinking to solve problems. Rather than giving direct answers, we ask open-ended questions and emphasize the process over the product, allowing children to grow through discovery and exploration.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
We are proud to offer Spanish instruction at Strong Foundations Academy. Early language learning is one of the best ways for children to become bilingual, a skill that provides lifelong benefits. We take advantage of the critical period in early development when acquiring language skills comes naturally and easily. A child’s ability to pronounce unfamiliar sounds and absorb new grammar rules is greatly enhanced before the age of six.
Our research-based Spanish curriculum helps students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills through a variety of interactive activities. We make the learning experience enjoyable by incorporating custom visual aids and music resources that not only guide language learning but also introduce students to Hispanic culture. To address the needs of kinesthetic learners, students are encouraged to actively participate in lessons through Total Physical Response (TPR)-style activities, making learning both engaging and effective.
ART
Art is a valuable activity that supports free play in children. The opportunity to manipulate various materials in an unstructured, organic way promotes exploration and experimentation. These artistic activities not only provide fun but also offer numerous educational benefits. Through art, children practice a wide range of skills that are essential not only for life but also for learning. So, why is art so important for young children?
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Fine Motor Skills: Grasping pencils, crayons, chalk, and paintbrushes helps children develop the fine motor muscles necessary for tasks like writing, buttoning a coat, and other actions that require controlled movements.
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Cognitive Development: Art helps children practice skills such as patterning and understanding cause and effect (e.g., "If I press harder with a crayon, the color is darker"). It also promotes critical thinking, as children visualize and plan their creations before bringing them to life.
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Math Skills: Through art, children begin to understand concepts such as size, shape, comparison, counting, and spatial reasoning, laying the foundation for future math learning.
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Language Skills: Describing and sharing their artwork helps children expand their vocabulary and language skills. Encouraging children to talk about their process and their work, along with asking open-ended questions, fosters communication development and the discovery of new words (e.g., texture).
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Beyond skill-building, art provides a creative outlet that supports overall health and well-being. It can help children relieve stress and process their emotions, offering a vital space for self-expression. By encouraging artistic exploration, you are not only facilitating learning but also contributing to your child’s emotional growth and development.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
"The #1 predictor of a child's future happiness and success is their emotional intelligence."
When children feel safe and connected, they are fully prepared to learn and grow!
Just as children aren't born knowing how to tie their shoes, they aren't born knowing how to regulate their emotions. Emotional regulation is a learned skill, and at Strong Foundations Academy, we teach it!
We understand the essential role we play in supporting children's social and emotional learning (SEL). Decades of research have shown that developing these interpersonal skills helps with brain development, setting the stage for a lifetime of happiness and success. As parents and educators, it is more crucial than ever to recognize and value the impact of SEL—both for helping children cope with current stresses and for its lasting positive effects on their health and well-being throughout life.
IMAGINATIVE PLAY
At Strong Foundations Academy, we work hard and PLAY hard. Imaginative play is a cornerstone of childhood, and it’s more than just fun—it plays a vital role in child development.
The benefits of child-centered, imaginative play are endless. As Mr. Rogers wisely said, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.”
Imaginative play builds empathy. By stepping into different roles and viewing the world from various perspectives, children expand their worldviews and develop a deeper understanding of how others experience the world.
When children engage in imaginary play with their peers, they slow down to listen, consider their feelings, and collaborate to ensure everyone is enjoying the experience. This fosters empathy as they learn to share, communicate, and care for each other.
Imaginative play also helps children practice essential social skills. Group play encourages cooperation, problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Kids learn how to work together toward a shared goal: fun. They practice listening, taking turns, self-advocating, and being flexible with their ideas—skills that are invaluable in building relationships.
Additionally, pretend play involves advanced thinking strategies, communication, and social skills. Children spend time planning, dividing tasks, negotiating roles, and transferring knowledge from real-life experiences (e.g., setting up a grocery store based on what they know from shopping with parents). It’s a powerful way for kids to balance their ideas with those of their peers and develop an action plan. That’s a lot of learning wrapped up in fun!