Virginia Chance School is a Progressive Preschool-Elementary in a historic stone schoolhouse on 26 magical acres. Our elementary program offers a challenging, progressive approach that engages students in a hands-on, collaborative, and engaging curriculum and learning environment. This includes rigorous academics, a focus on building self-motivation and independence, a growth mindset, outdoor integration, and appreciation for our environment, responsible decision-making and utilizing critical thinking skills; therefore, preparing your child to excel in school and in life.
The Chance elementary program – serving kindergartners through fifth graders — is a community of learners. Our integrated approach develops the whole child – encompassing academics and social, emotional, moral, and physical development. We guide children to optimize their potential during this critical developmental stage of childhood. We support and encourage children to become literate, academically-prepared, self-disciplined, and socially responsible individuals who are resilient and healthy in body, mind and spirit; therefore, teaching to the whole child – cognitively, socially, emotionally, morally, and physically. As our Vision, Mission, Philosophy, Best Practice Goals, and Standards/Milestones illustrate, we put the “whole child” focus into practice on a daily basis by creating classroom experiences that reflect these beliefs.
In our elementary classrooms, Chance students are immersed in learning opportunities across all domains while also developing and practicing essential life skills under the guidance of two certified lead teachers in self-contained classrooms. Our teachers are trained in assessment practices that guide instruction and learning experiences and are knowledgeable of grade-level curriculum standards and content requirements that meet the various age groups we serve in K-5th grade. We guide children to optimize their potential during this critical developmental stage of childhood.
Upon completing our entire program, a child develops the foundation upon which a lifetime of learning will rest.
Daily Schedule
Elementary classes meet from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Extended program options are available.
In elementary classrooms, Chance students develop and practice essential life skills under the guidance of two lead teachers. Both teachers are trained to lead, plan curriculum and assess. The classroom meets the needs of children with teaching methods and curriculum components based on a child’s developmental abilities.
Elementary Classroom Configuration and Size
- Kindergarten
- Multi-Age Classrooms:
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- First/Second Grade
- Third/Fourth Grade
- Fifth Grade
Our configuration allows us to provide intentional attention and focus to our kindergarteners as they transition from preschool to our elementary program. Kindergarten and our multi-age Primary 1st and 2nd grades focus on foundational literacy and numeracy skill instruction and practice, while our multi-age intermediate grades of 3rd and 4th are utilizing and applying learned reading, writing, and math skills across the curriculum. Our multi-age pairings align with children's social and academic needs at this age and foster the learner-leader approach, which is a best-practice. Our 5th graders are provided with extended experiences across the curriculum with an emphasis on real-world application and connections with the community, therefore, fortifying each with a daily emphasis on the application of learned skills and practices in preparation for the middle school transition and beyond.
At our school, we have two teachers per classroom to provide the best learning experience to our students. Although the teacher-to-student ratio is low, our classrooms are spacious to accommodate this two-teacher model. Therefore, our classrooms cannot be categorized as having "small class sizes." Our program is designed to challenge your child to develop an array of relationships within the classroom, which is an intentional part of our teaching approach.
A typical elementary day includes:
- Soft Start
- Morning Meeting (greeting, share, activity, letter); SEL work
- Outdoor Time/Snack
- Literacy Block (reading, writing, word study)
- Assessment
- Read-Aloud (comprehension strategies)
- Small Group, One-On-One Centers
- Lunch and Rest
- Math Block (number sense, operations, measurement and data, geometry)
- Contexts for Learning
- Unit Assessment
- Whole group Instruction (review and Introduce)
- Independent Practice/Centers
- Share
- Inquiry-Based Learning Process and Projects (theme-focused - science or social studies led)
- Closing Meeting (reflection)/Outdoor Time
- Specialists - monthly rotations
Soft Start
A dedicated time to transition into the school day with an open-ended, playful, exploratory time provides relationship-building and child-centered learning. This benefits children by priming their brains for the rest of the school day. Research has taught us how “play” allows children to practice prosocial behaviors, ignite their imagination and creativity, explore the world around them, and engage in reasoning.
Morning Meeting
A dedicated time that brings the community of learners together and allows teachers to check the “pulse" of individuals as they begin their school day. Morning Meeting offers the following activities before more structured learning begins:
- Students greet one another with eye contact, a smile, by name, handshake, movement, gesture, activity, music, passing an object, etc. around the circle
- Students share news or information about themselves, family, topics related to school or classroom studies, etc.
- Students participate in an activity building class cohesion, inclusion and cooperation through active participation
- Students take turns reading and sharing the morning message that highlights events of the day
Literacy Development
At Chance, students engage in reading, writing, and word study skill instruction, along with listening and speaking experiences, to build these skills and to share their strategic thinking. Large and small group activities, independent practice, and exploration are incorporated into the daily experience. Our reading block includes read-aloud to practice and apply comprehension strategies to extend one’s schema (prior knowledge) and offer exposure to various texts. Small group literature circles build from foundation skill instruction and practice in the early grades to analyzing, comparing and contrasting, studying an author’s writing style, etc., in the older grades. Both decodable and leveled texts are incorporated across grade levels, and we incorporate both explicit instruction and independent practice.
Word study focuses on orthographic mapping, building sight words and high frequency words, vocabulary, development, sentence structure, and functional mechanics such as spelling, punctuation, and grammar to support reading and writing development. Older students use and apply an inquiry approach with word study investigations. Also, exposure to and practice with a variety of writing styles and genres include narrative, informational, opinion, and poetry writing to support student writing skills and ability to meet specific criteria for each piece.
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Math Development
The math program uses a spiral curriculum that revisits concepts and adds new components. Concepts include numeration and order, patterns, functions and sequences, measurement, currency, time, geometry, and exploration of data and probability. A group lesson is typically followed by guided and independent practice. Students use manipulatives as they move from concrete levels of learning to abstract learning. Enrichment activities and research extensions invite higher-level thinking and real-world applications, helping learners see how math is naturally incorporated into other areas of learning. Real-life math experiences, math-literature connections, and math games support and encourage exploration, investigation, and problem-solving.
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here to learn more about math in our elementary program.
Inquiry-Based Learning
Students explore real-life subjects in science and social studies by blending the interests and questions of students along with guidance from standards, and accessing all curriculum domains throughout the process. Such practice expands knowledge through questions and research and encourages meaningful, engaging and collaborative project work. Often these projects have an aspect of stewardship that encourages students to learn how to care for their community and environment in an authentic and relevant way.
Guided Inquiry-Based Inquiry provides a framework to develop and organize investigations, explorations, research and project work (PBL). The steps are process-oriented and include:
- Open (Activity, Provocation, or Exploration) - stimulating curiosity; catching students' attention and making initial connections; tapping into schema
- Immerse (Experiences and Resources) - building background knowledge; supporting and extending schema; developing interests
- Explore - investigating; “dipping in”
- Pause and Identify - identifying and clarifying the inquiry question (essential question); setting direction or focus
- Gather - constructing knowledge; devoting time to gather information that will respond to the question; building schema; deep diving; research groups
- Create - choosing how to present new knowledge; gathering materials
- Share - sharing with an authentic audience
- Evaluate - reflecting on process; setting new goals
Closing Circle
This gathering time at the end of the day provides an opportunity for the classroom community to come together to reflect on their daily experiences. Questions such as “What went well for you today and why?” or “What was challenging and how did you problem-solve the challenge?” This time allows for teachers to check the “pulse’ of individuals before they exit for the day.
Specialist Curriculum
Specialist classes are an important component of a comprehensive and progressive educational program, supporting and expanding the development of the whole child. Our Elementary students get to dive deep into each of these areas of learning for a monthly focus with each specialist.
Art
Art lets children explore their creative visions using various tools and media introduced each week. Preschool students are exposed to artistic exploration in preschool classes with their teachers, and Elementary students meet with the school’s art teacher during designated rotation times.
Science
Our Science class brings the wonders of science with experiential learning and integrated outdoor discovery. Elementary students develop the skills necessary to function productively as problem-solvers in a scientific world and each student is involved in first-hand exploration and investigation, and inquiry/process skills are nurtured and expanded with hands-on activities.
Physical Education
Elementary students move to strengthen and exercise growing bodies. Elementary students meet with the school’s PE teacher and learn the value of being physically fit through organized skill development, and structured games and activities in the Funroom or on the field. Health discussions and applications are incorporated into daily classes.
Music
Students gain an appreciation of music through singing and instrumentation. Elementary students meet with the school’s music teacher and sing a varied repertoire, perform with instruments, read and notate, and learn music’s role in history and culture.
Media
Technology, library, and digital citizen instruction, under the guidance of the school’s media specialist, exposes elementary students to various educational apps, coding, the use of the Internet with safe search and best practice querying for reliable sources, as well as practice with keyboarding. Computers, laptops, and iPads are incorporated appropriately into elementary classrooms to expand learning and enhance research skills. With a visit to the library, elementary students experience rich literature, which promotes a love of books and reading. The school’s collection includes award-winning Caldecott and Newbery literature, theme study reference books, and parent resource books and is regularly updated, analyzed, and refreshed. Our literature also represents the diversity children will experience in the world, providing mirrors and windows to their own lived experiences.
Language & Culture
World Language and Culture broaden students’ awareness of other cultures. All students have exposure through theme studies and the sharing of traditions by Chance families and teachers. Elementary students become engaged in experiences that foster cultural understanding and sensitivity along with using a second language under the guidance of the Language and Culture Teacher.