ACADEMICS TO EQUIP & INSPIRE: Imago dei’s 2023/24 curriculum

ART,  MUSIC & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Because we believe that children are whole persons, and that art and music are vital to the full expression of our humanity, we offer art and music as part of a student’s core curriculum. Working in partnership with Angie Cooke of the Make Creative Studio, students have the opportunity to experience both process and product art, explore a wide variety of materials, cultivate their creativity, and learn the techniques necessary to build age-appropriate artistic skills.

Likewise, music class is a place of creative expression, skill development, and the cultivation of close and careful listening. Under the leadership of Crystal McDonald of JC’s Keys, PreK - 2nd grade students at Imago Dei study artists, musicians, and composers from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds. Students in 3rd - 5th grade are led in choir by Randall Mailand of the Mailand Music Academy. These twice weekly classes give students the opportunity to learn vocal technique, solfege, bucket drumming and percussion, choral repertoire, rounds and cannons, and games to develop their musical sense.

Finally, we are delighted that Coach Maliq Graham leads our PE classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Through a variety of skill-building exercises, students will continue to develop their large motor skills and coordination, practice teamwork and cooperation, and learn the basic elements of common sports.

BIBLE

Our prayer is that all students hear and understand what the Bible teaches about God’s love, His mercy, His care, how we should treat one another, and how God is at work redeeming and healing people and places.  As developmentally-appropriate, children will grow in familiarity with the Bible, and learn how to look to Scripture for comfort, guidance, and correction. For our students in Pre-K through 5th grade, teachers will utilize the Jesus Storybook Bible and accompanying curriculum to share the transformative  stories and characters found in Scripture, with a particular emphasis on the person and work of Jesus. Students will also memorize passages of Scripture, learn songs from various Christian traditions and styles, and will be invited to pray with and for one another. We use the New International Reader's Version (NIrV)  of the Bible.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY

History tells us the story of the people, places and events that came before. As a school committed to helping students understand their place in the world, we believe it is vitally important that children see God at work in all places, through all people, across all of time. Utilizing E.D. Hirsch’s comprehensive Core Knowledge History and Geography curriculum, students are introduced to age-appropriate American and world history, geography, and civics,  interconnected with literature, the arts and music, and brought to life through maps, globes, timelines, biographies, well-chosen fiction stories, group activities, dress-up, skits, and more.

Through the Core Knowledge program, even our youngest students will begin to understand their role within the family, within the classroom, and eventually, as citizens of a participatory democracy. We believe explicit civics education, in the context of a child’s study of American history, will prepare students to appreciate the opportunities and the privileges of their citizenship.

LANGUAGE ARTS 

Beginning in Pre-kindergarten, our students learn to read, spell, and understand the English language through explicit phonics instruction and significant daily reading practice. Students will hear their teacher read high quality stories throughout the day, and will regularly engage with written language.  Imago Dei students will also learn about and from oral traditions and will practice listening and narration skills throughout elementary school.

The top-rated Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) classroom program provides the comprehensive literacy curriculum for Imago Dei. “Amplify CKLA is a unique core curriculum for PreK–5 grounded in the science of reading, combining rich, diverse content knowledge in history, science, literature, and the arts with systematic, research-based foundational skills instruction.” This intentional interdisciplinary approach aligns well with Imago Dei’s commitment to integrated learning in the context of rigorous academics.

In addition to direct instruction, the school and classroom libraries will offer high quality, age appropriate books to delight, inspire, and challenge students to build their literacy skills. Books have been carefully chosen to offer stories that cultivate students’ appetites for well-written, well-illustrated works that represent the full ethnic diversity of God’s good creation.

MATH

At Imago Dei, we use Right Start Mathematics. Right Start is a multi-sensory curriculum that seeks not only to help students learn and understand math, but to enjoy it as well. By minimizing the use of flashcards and worksheets, and emphasizing the use of manipulatives and math games in class and at home, the curriculum gives students the instruction and practice they need to achieve competency and become flexible problem solvers while remaining engaged in the math process.

SCIENCE

One of the distinctives of a Charlotte Mason inspired education is the regular study of nature. Students are given many opportunities to explore and interact with the natural environment. Through nature study, keeping a nature journal, and taking nature hikes, students develop their observation skills and their appreciation of the beauty and intricacy of the world around them. The skills and principles developed in nature study extend into science, as students learn about the principles that govern the natural world. Virginia’s standards of learning, and the classic Handbook of Nature Study will help answer student questions and guide early scientific inquiry. Students will also learn about the importance of caring for creation through the study of conservationists, recycling, composting, and weekly time caring for our school garden boxes during the growing seasons.

SPANISH 

Children have an incredible aptitude for language acquisition. We believe early introduction to Richmond’s second most commonly spoken language is a wonderful way for children to build an understanding of how language works, to gain an appreciation of God’s good design for diverse peoples and cultures, and to be better prepared for the local and global opportunities of the future. Using songs and chants, Imago Dei students will begin learning this beautiful language through the Song School Spanish curriculum, beginning with once a week classes in Kindergarten and 1st grade; 2nd - 5th graders enjoy Spanish class twice a week.

HOW WE THINK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

We believe that students should put pencil to paper, paintbrush to easel, and turn the pages of great living books! While we do use computers for our benchmark testing (NWEA MAPS) at the beginning and end of the year, Imago Dei is very low tech school.

As our students get older, we will approach the questions of screen time carefully and cautiously. We want to strike the right balance between technological knowledge/training and healthy, limited screen usage. Our desire is for our students to grow in their capacity to rightly use technology with wisdom and constraint.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM DISTINCTIVES

Pre-K provides opportunities for children to learn through play in ways that interest them, are developmentally appropriate, and create a positive association with learning that will last a lifetime. Imago Dei’s Pre-K classroom will be a play-based learning environment that encourages each child’s spiritual, social/emotional, physical, cognitive, and language/literacy development. 

 Social/emotional: Through daily interactions with others, children will learn how to self regulate, share, express emotions, to have respect for others, and gain independence with self-help skills.

 Physical: Students will refine their gross motor skills and coordination through movement activities like jumping, climbing, and running. Fine motor skills needed for handwriting, using scissors, and self help tasks will be developed through daily activities like drawing, cutting, and playdough. 

 Cognitive: Students will build cognitive skills through activities that challenge them to try new things, solve problems, ask questions, and closely observe the world around them. 

 Language/literacy: Through well chosen books, classic tales, and nursery rhymes, children will build a strong vocabulary and an appetite for reading. Environmental print will bridge the connection between letters and words.