Writing Curriculum

"NCCL kids write well" is a phrase we often hear from our students' high school teachers. Unlike schools where writing is merely touched on in Language Arts class, we devote substantial time to it and teach writing as a craft rather than just an assignment. Over a child's time at NCCL, she will have worked on her writing an average of four days a week for close to an hour a day. She will have completed long-term writing projects, shorter essays, and most importantly, developed her voice as a writer. With an 11:1 student/teacher ratio, teachers are able to meet with each student during the writing process. In these one-on-one conferences, each student is challenged to think of the reader, develop her words and ideas, and learn conventions of writing. Our kids achieve success and satisfaction from completing projects that are published for a genuine audience, whether it be the school community or the Greater Newark Area. Read more...

Mathematics Curriculum

Children come to school with a natural curiosity about their world; numbers help them measure, quantify, and make predictions to better understand it. From Kindergarten through Grade 8, NCCL teachers support students as they unfold the ever more intriguing mathematical possibilities that exist. The primary goal of the math program at NCCL is to teach for understanding and in so doing empower students with confidence. Concepts are presented in a developmentally appropriate way and time is allowed for students to wonder, explore, discuss, revisit and reflect. Students learn to think like mathematicians and to develop skills and patience as they apply what they know to new problems and to deeper understandings of the world around them.

More about Math at NCCL:
Teaching Math Problem Solving
Multiplication at NCCL
Individualizing Math Instruction

See also: Our Philosophy We Teach as We Do Because...

Homeroom Curriculum

NCCL is comprised of four multi-age homeroom groups. Group 1 is comparable to Kindergarten through 2nd grades; Group 2 to 2nd through 4th grades; Group 3 to 5th and 6th grades; Group 4 to 7th and 8th grades. Each group has a 2 - 3 year age span. There is overlap age-wise and academically between the groups so children can be placed appropriately academically, socially and emotionally. Each homeroom group has about 22 - 24 children and 2 full-time teachers who work with them. The homeroom group is divided into smaller groups for classes so there are usually 10 -12 children in a class group. Some activities, such as science, social studies, etc., have all of the children and both teachers working together. This arrangement enables us to have small academic classes but still gives the children a large enough social group to foster social development. See an example of the curriculum covered by each group each month.

Computer Curriculum

We believe computers should be an integral part of any educational program. Below is a brief outline of how we use computers in our classrooms.

Primary age children:

• Become comfortable with the use of computers.
• Develop problem solving skills and creativity through the use of open ended programs.
• Practice and enhance academic skills through the use of specific programs to address their needs.
• Write stories, poems, reports etc. (especially useful for children who have difficulty forming letters and struggle to put their ideas on paper).
• Develop language skills as groups of children interact by helping each other, giving directions, making group decisions.
• Learn beginning keyboard skills.

Intermediate age children:

• Write stories, poems, reports, etc., editing and making necessary revisions.
• Gather information from CD ROM encyclopedias and Internet connections.
• Publish finished products using specialized programs such as publishing and graphics programs.
• Learn and develop programming skills.
• Practice and enhance academic skills through the use of specific programs to address their needs.
• Prepare for real life by learning essential computer skills such as keyboarding, use of specific programs, and programming.

In art and music classes children:

• Gather information.
• Produce original works with computer programs.
• Experiment with musical notation and composition.
• Learn music theory.