Welcome to our Lower School
As your child approaches the elementary years, the prospect of a large school with crowded classrooms may raise concerns about meeting individual needs. Atlanta Academy offers an exceptional alternative, with smaller classes and a close-knit community dedicated to supporting each student's unique journey.
Our math curriculum is a comprehensive program that fosters a deep understanding of mathematical concepts while enhancing students' problem-solving skills. Each lesson progresses from concrete, hands-on activities to pictorial representations and finally to abstract applications, ensuring a solid grasp of concepts at every level. By developing strong number sense, students gain a thorough understanding of numbers and operations. The curriculum also emphasizes logical and creative problem-solving strategies, empowering students to approach math challenges confidently. This approach builds a robust mathematical foundation and instills lasting confidence in their abilities.
Our reading curriculum is designed to create strong readers, writers, and thinkers by focusing on vocabulary acquisition, text analysis, and listening and speaking skills. Students engage with rich, diverse content, including both fiction and non-fiction, to build background knowledge and deepen comprehension. Our phonics program provides explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, spelling, and word study, utilizing multisensory techniques to enhance learning. Handwriting practice and reading fluency are also emphasized to strengthen writing skills and reading proficiency. This comprehensive approach ensures that each child receives tailored support to thrive as a confident, skilled reader and writer.
Our writing curriculum is designed to enhance students' writing skills by explicitly teaching effective writing techniques and strategies. Emphasizing writing as a vital tool for learning and critical thinking, we integrate writing across all subjects, providing ample practice in various contexts. The curriculum focuses on developing sentence-level skills, such as sentence expansion and combination, and progresses to more complex tasks like paragraph and essay writing. We also teach self-regulation techniques, including goal-setting, self-monitoring, and self-reinforcement, to help students become independent writers. By internalizing these strategies, students learn to plan, write, revise, and edit their work with confidence and precision.
At Atlanta Academy, our four specialized science labs provide age-appropriate learning environments where students can engage in hands-on exploration and scientific inquiry. In primary school, we utilize an inquiry-based curriculum covering life, earth, and physical science. This approach immerses students in interactive experiments and hands-on activities, actively involving them in their learning process. Our curriculum lays a strong foundation in essential concepts by nurturing curiosity and developing critical thinking skills while emphasizing observation, experimentation, and problem-solving.
At Atlanta Academy, our preschool through third-grade social studies curriculum encourages students to explore the intricate web of human interactions and communities, from their homes and schools to local neighborhoods, states, and countries. Educators utilize a variety of resources, including maps, interactive technology, and supplementary materials, to create a rich and engaging learning experience.
Our approach is intentionally interdisciplinary, integrating literature into the social studies curriculum. By incorporating literary works, students not only enhance their reading skills but also gain a deeper understanding of historical events, diverse cultures, and geography. This method encourages students to draw meaningful connections between literature and the broader context of their community, nation, and global history.
This comprehensive approach fosters a well-rounded comprehension of social studies, helping young learners build a strong foundation for understanding the world around them.
Our STEAM program equips students with essential skills in critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation, covering areas such as environmental design, engineering, digital technologies, and more. In the lower school, students immerse themselves in diverse projects, from coding and woodburning to painting and drawing, fostering creativity and design thinking. We also have an on-site chicken coop where students learn about animal care and life cycles, actively participating in the care and raising of chickens, including the rare Mille Fleur d'Uccle breed. This hands-on experience encourages students to think outside the box and apply their learning in real-world contexts.
Social-emotional learning is key to developing well-rounded students. It focuses on core competencies such as self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. These skills educate hearts, inspire minds, and empower students to navigate the world effectively.
Our physical education program is designed to build the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of fitness and healthy living. Students are introduced to a variety of sports and activities, giving each child the opportunity to discover their interests and talents. At Atlanta Academy, we believe that physical education is not just about exercise; it is about shaping well-rounded individuals who understand the importance of taking care of both their bodies and minds.
Our visual and performing arts programs serve as the cornerstone for fostering creative thinking, instilling confidence, and encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones. Purposefully designed, these programs prepare students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation skills.