How We Teach and Learn

Teachers at Osoberry School know best practices in teaching and utilize hands-on, experiential activities and project based units of study. We don't just teach foundational academics; we teach kids how to learn and nurture their innate curiosity and joy.

Each class follows a multi-year cycle of learning as they loop with their teacher. Math and Language Arts are taught in small groups based on skill development. By working in mixed-age classrooms, students are able to benefit from the experience of being a younger mentee and then an older mentor.

We follow an extended school year from September through July to give space and time to academics and personal interests. With extra days in the year we are able to approach academics deeply, give time for concepts to settle, and relax into a day that schedules in playful downtime.

2024/25 School Calendar

Sample Schedule:

Curriculum Focus by Subject

Math

We use a combination of curriculums (Math for Love, Mindset Mathematics, Do the Math) and teacher-created lessons. We introduce and practice concepts using hands-on materials and math games to develop a concrete and flexible understanding of math concepts. Whenever possible we integrate art into our math study to connect with the creative, beautiful side of the subject.

We split students into small groups based on skill development to support each child where they're at. Because of that, students don't always work in their grade level. The following list gives you an idea of how we progress math skills through the years.

In Kindergarten, students typically focus on:

• Foundational skills in numeracy to build math flexibility
• Understanding the physical quantity of numbers
• Seeing and making patterns everywhere
• Putting numbers together
• Describing and sorting objects
• Stretching counting toward 100

In 1st/2nd grade, students typically focus on:

• Building a concrete and flexible understanding of numbers
• Developing a playful ease with addition and subtraction within 100, then 1000
• Building with and talking about shapes
• Using patterns in place value
• Using data to describe and wonder about the world
• Making and using equal groups
• Composing and decomposing numbers
• Measurement in time and space

In 3rd grade, students typically focus on:

• Continuing practice and fluency with addition and subtraction through 1000
• Learning and practicing multiplication
• Gaining a concrete understanding of division
• Working with basic fractions to understand equal parts

In 4th grade, students typically focus on:

• Mastery of multiplication/division in useful situations
• Play and practice with fractions including mixed fractions
• Introduction to decimals
• Using operations flexibly
• Building and designing with shapes and angles

In 5th grade, students typically focus on:

• Multiplying and dividing fractions
• Estimating with fractions
• Thinking in powers of 10
• Exploring the coordinate plane
• Using numbers and symbols flexibly

Language Arts

We use a combination of curriculums (Writing Workshop by Lucy Calkins, Brave Writer, Words Their Way Spelling) and teacher-created lessons to build authentic and joyful uses of reading and writing. For students needing more focused reading/writing instruction we utilize Structured Literacy approaches in small group pull-outs. We combine our Language Arts lessons with thematic units in Social Studies and Science, and integrate the arts whenever possible as a mode for storytelling.

Just as in math, we split kids into small group based on skill development. This means not all kids are working at their grade level. The following list will give you an idea of skill development through the years.

In Kinder-2nd grade, students typically focus on:

• Reading for joy
• Comprehension and discussion of read-aloud texts
• Exposure to a variety of texts including non-fiction, folktales, and poetry
• Developing and documenting made up stories, how-to books, and expert narratives
• Developing and practicing decoding skills, increasing in fluency from K to 2nd grade
• Practicing neat, legible printed handwriting

In 3rd/4th grade, students typically focus on:

• Reading for joy
• Reading a variety of texts including non-fiction, fiction, and poetry
• Developing research skills using printed and online materials
• Learning and practicing skills for book discussions
• Fluency in writing fictional and personal narrative stories, informational texts, and poetry
• Learning and practicing legible cursive script

In 5th/6th grade, students typically focus on:

• Reading for joy
• Engaging in deep discussions around philosophy, ethics, history, and current events
• Developing deeper skills in independent research
• Practicing presentation and public speaking
• Academic forms of writing such as essays in addition to deeper fiction writing
• Learning and practicing keyboard typing

Theme Study Projects

Our Theme Study Projects include Science, Social Studies, and Arts topics and are highly influenced by class interests. We use a combination of teacher-led and student-directed investigations to explore our world. We integrate language arts and math into our projects as a space for authentic learning.

Example projects include: Schoolyard ecology, mapping our city & Portland history, crime lab chemistry, First Nations of Oregon, animal reports, and class musicals

Afterschool

We offer flexible pick up times from 3-5pm. You are welcome to pick up at 3pm one day and 4:30 the next. We hope this offers families the reliable and stress free childcare they need for busy lives.

During our after school hours the kids enjoy more outside play time on our onsite playground, an afternoon snack, and an assortment of creative art and play activities. This time is low key, and typically less structured than the rest of the day.

Based on volunteer availability, we hope to offer parent-led clubs for kids to pursue specific interests.