Give
Adam J. Lewis Academy draws on the best practices in early childhood education to provide a rich hybrid curriculum. Our program empowers children to master the skills necessary for future success, while also emphasizing the process and the joy of learning.
Language & Literacy
- Language, in all its forms, is an essential part of our program.
- A combination of various programs and techniques are used to teach letters and reading
- AJLA also fosters a love of reading by exposing children to all types of literature.
- Vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills are developed in both large and small group activities.
- Raising a Reader bags with 4 books are sent home weekly.
Math, Numeracy & Logic
- AJLA uses Bridges Math Curriculum
- Children learn about math by working with concrete materials that they can touch and manipulate.
- Large blocks develop spatial awareness, smaller colored blocks invite patterning, and beads encourage sorting and matching.
- Significant time is allotted each day for children to experiment with varied math materials.
Music, Art & Science
- Twice weekly music lessons are provided by Suzuki Music School for PreK-K students with emphasis on song, dance, and movement
- K-4th graders participate in chorus
- Grades 1-4 learn to play the violin
- Students have an art class once a week.
- All grades participate in a robust science curriculum where they learn through observation, classification, prediction, and exploration.
Social & Emotional Development
- All classes use the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence RULER program to cultivate social-emotional skills.
- Children use the “Mood Meter” each morning, and are actively encouraged to identify and express their emotions throughout the day.
- PreK4 and Kindergarten also use Second Step Social-Emotional Learning curriculum, created by Committee for Children, to develop a sense of safety and respect grounded in the social-emotional health and well-being of the entire school community.
- During all activities, kindness and respect are modeled by teachers and are the expected standards for students.
- Teachers discuss and encourage self-control and conflict resolution.
- Significant time is devoted to fostering empathy and compassion for others.
Physical Development
- Physical Education classes are offered twice a week to all classes.
- As children learn through the movement of their bodies, strong emphasis is placed on the development of gross motor skills as well as cooperation and working as a team.
- Children develop large and small muscle control to accomplish coordinated tasks.
- AJLA’s large outdoor playground provides opportunities to run, climb, jump, balance, and explore—as well as to problem-solve and cooperate with peers.