Primary School

Giddens School's state-accredited program ensures individualized attention for each student by keeping classes small: 12-18 students. Project-based, hands-on learning allows for multidimensional academic growth.

Emphasis is given to:

• Building Academic Skills. Achievement in reading, writing, science, math, and Spanish is combined with artistic and musical expression.
• Fostering an Appreciation of Challenge and Achievement. Students learn to take risks, ask for help, and accept mistakes and misunderstandings as part of the learning process.
• Recognizing Multiple Learning Styles. Exploratory, cooperative, self-directed, and teacher-guided instruction enable achievement.
• Experienced teachers. Talented, dedicated, professionals build the ideas and enthusiasm of their students into each day's lessons.
• Mentoring younger children. All older students are paired with younger “buddies” with whom they interact regularly.

Primary school students continue in a progression of first-hand experience and skill building in language, math, science, the arts, physical education, and social skills.

Language Arts

Giddens uses a blended approach of whole language and phonics to teach reading and writing with the support of quality children's literature and daily opportunities to read, write, and revise. Skills in speech and listening comprehension, singing and recitation, reading, writing, and penmanship grow as students explore and communicate with the their surroundings. Storytelling, puppetry, drama, poetry, and song round out a comprehensive language arts curriculum to build skills in authorship and critical reading.

Math

We employ a manipulative-based method that proceeds from concrete to abstract and symbolic thinking. By using everyday situations and objects to pose, solve, and record, we work with mathematical principles whenever and wherever they occur. In addition, teachers draw from a variety of sources to encourage integrated math and language projects.

Science

Curiosity and enthusiasm drive our hands-on approach physical science and natural history. We explore the environment of Puget Sound to provide first-hand experience in classroom investigation, experimentation, and integrated field experience.

Physical Education and the Arts

Both structured and unstructured playground time, gymnastics, dance, and other physical activities promote dexterity and achievement in a non-threatening environment. Visual and performing arts are incorporated into the curriculum and include field trips and school enrichment activities that explore dance, drama, and puppetry. A strong Physical Education program for K-5 students promotes the excitement of physical activity, personal challenge, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Social and emotional development

Our teachers and counselors advance self-confidence and positive social interaction through the development of direct communication and problem solving skills, and the encouragement of a fair, honest, and open examination of cultural bias.

Technology

Classroom Internet access and a student Web site provide opportunities for research and publication of student's work. Digital photography is used in many class projects.

Homework

Homework is for reinforcement, not for teaching new skills. Because Giddens's philosophy dictates that the curriculum is influenced by who is in the classroom and what their interests are, homework will vary in quantity and content from class to class and year to year.

We do not believe in “busy work” and homework is only assigned when it is relevant and in keeping with the following goals:

• To give students the opportunity to practice skills after they have acquired them
• To give students the opportunity to work with family members and forge an important academic link between home and school
• To give families an opportunity to regularly observe parts of their children's academic lives
• To give students practice in bringing projects and assignments from school to home and back, which builds organizational and pre-professional habits