project-based learning
Integrated Studies
At Sycamore, project-based integrated learning is essential for engagement. Our iStudy curriculum is designed for student-led inquiry alongside the exploration of science, history, and social sciences content.
During iStudy, students experience the interconnectedness of academic content, while applying skills and strategies as communicators and real life problem-solvers.
Exhibitions are community events where students present innovative projects, both personal and collaborative. Exhibitions offer opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning and growth, develop presentation and communication skills, and embrace feedback and reflection in front of authentic audiences.
Portfolios are ongoing documentation made by students to highlight personal projects, reflections, and new learning.
Making Connections
Communication Literacy
We believe that communication goes beyond traditional print-text modalities. Literacy across a broad range of platforms is vital to the development of humans in the 21st century.
Sycamore students learn that communication comes through many channels, such as infographics, videos, podcasts, pictures, speeches, print media, and games.
Each channel presents different constraints and different opportunities for students to develop and apply communication skills.
Patterns & Modeling
Math
At Sycamore School, our goal is for students to become math lovers who understand that math is a tool that is usable in their real lives.
Math at Sycamore is creative, visual, hands-on, and collaborative, promoting a growth mindset, depth over speed, and developing deep number sense.
Through our curriculum, we pursue meaningful, open inquiry tasks which reflect real-world problems and have multiple points of entry. We extend our students’ thinking about math so as to encourage actual curiosity or problem-solving.
Creative Problem Solving
Play
Play is an integral component to healthy human development. It is intrinsic to motivation and the primary way children come to learn about the world. This is why at Sycamore, we give students ample play time and why we put play at the center of curriculum and instruction. Whether it’s playing make believe on the play structure, exploring the makerspace, playing a student-made board game, playing dodgeball, or engaging in a LARP (live-action role play) on Mars, at Sycamore students experience learning through play.
Growing Emotional Intelligence
Social Emotional Learning
Social Emotional Learning is integrated into the educational experience.
The social emotional competencies that students develop are self awareness, social awareness, self management, relationship skills, and responsible decision making.
We are committed to creating a school culture where students, staff, and community members feel safe, valued, and connected.
Beyond Classrooms
Enrichment
As an educational community, we believe in the importance of providing our students with rich experiences that extend thinking and creativity.
To develop this broader set of skills, Sycamore students participate in a day of specialized classes including Nature Lab, Theater, and Physical Education.
real world experiences
Trips and Service
We offer transformative educational experiences beyond the classroom through field trips, outdoor programs, and guest speakers. These activities enrich academic knowledge and build essential social skills, adaptability, self-reliance and community.
Measuring Growth
Assessment
We provide progress reports and written narratives. These reports track student progress in communications literacy and math. Narratives are written by educators to provide feedback on student successes, challenges, and growth. We also conduct parent conferences twice per year.
Equally important, two times a year, we have our formal Learning Exhibitions where students present projects. These exhibitions offer opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning and growth, develop presentation and communication skills, and embrace feedback and reflection in front of authentic audiences.
"The magic of the school is in how it fosters the intangibles outside the classroom. Our kids are constantly demonstrating deep enthusiasm for the subject matter, and self-awareness of how they approach new concepts and ideas."
- Josh, Parent
Schedule a tour with our Admissions Director.