FAQ
THE CLASSROOM
What are you class size ?
Our class sizes are small and personal, capped at 12 students per classroom. Students mostly work and create in their “home” classroom with peers but also gather in school-wide events for Consortium(a group of octopuses is called a Consortium), Field Trips, performances or guest speakers, as well as break into smaller groups for focused math or literacy instruction. Compared to public schools, our class sizes are smaller by half and offer personalized instruction, collaboration with peers, and student-led project-based learning.
We teach creatively to creative kids, so we are well-versed in ways to creatively accommodate students with sensory integration issues, learning disabilities or otherwise. First and foremost, we work with the families and students to best support the whole child. We readily modify environments as best as possible including seating, noise levels, break spaces, and use co-teachers as support when students need breaks. We strongly believe that everyone learns differently and we strive to support each child so they can be successful and happy during the school day.
Currently, K-1 class is 8 students, 2-4 class is 7 students. One homeroom teacher each, plus 4 specialty teachers and often a support teacher.
Our average teacher to student ratio is 5:1
What are you class size ?
Our class sizes are small and personal, capped at 12 students per classroom. Students mostly work and create in their “home” classroom with peers but also gather in school-wide events for Consortium(a group of octopuses is called a Consortium), Field Trips, performances or guest speakers, as well as break into smaller groups for focused math or literacy instruction. Compared to public schools, our class sizes are smaller by half and offer personalized instruction, collaboration with peers, and student-led project-based learning.
We teach creatively to creative kids, so we are well-versed in ways to creatively accommodate students with sensory integration issues, learning disabilities or otherwise. First and foremost, we work with the families and students to best support the whole child. We readily modify environments as best as possible including seating, noise levels, break spaces, and use co-teachers as support when students need breaks. We strongly believe that everyone learns differently and we strive to support each child so they can be successful and happy during the school day.
Currently, K-1 class is 8 students, 2-4 class is 7 students. One homeroom teacher each, plus 4 specialty teachers and often a support teacher.
Our average teacher to student ratio is 5:1
Is there one home room teacher similar to public school or is it middle-school styled where students have elective courses with different teachers?
Students in Robert Williams School learn in multi-age classrooms with peers in their age group. The breakdown of grades/ages depends greatly on enrollment, but for the 2022-23 school year we have had a Kindergarten/First classroom with Molly and a Second-Fourth grade classroom with Jen. These are their homeroom classes and spend the most time with this small group and one teacher, though their school day is peppered with Specialists and activities. Students have Music class daily, and Science, Dance, and Spanish each twice weekly with separate teachers. We also gather in school-wide events for Consortium, Field Trips, performances or guest speakers, as well as break into mixed smaller groups for focused math or literacy instruction.
Students in Robert Williams School learn in multi-age classrooms with peers in their age group. The breakdown of grades/ages depends greatly on enrollment, but for the 2022-23 school year we have had a Kindergarten/First classroom with Molly and a Second-Fourth grade classroom with Jen. These are their homeroom classes and spend the most time with this small group and one teacher, though their school day is peppered with Specialists and activities. Students have Music class daily, and Science, Dance, and Spanish each twice weekly with separate teachers. We also gather in school-wide events for Consortium, Field Trips, performances or guest speakers, as well as break into mixed smaller groups for focused math or literacy instruction.
CURRICULUM
What are all the subjects covered?
RWS is an arts-integrated school that uses project-based learning as a complementary approach. Though there may be several subjects included in any particular project, they are studying them through real-world application and problem-solving - using the design process from both art and science. However, we also teach subjects discretely, such as specialty classes like Music, Science, Spanish, and Dance, as well as Math and Reading workshops. There are also specific times for skills instruction like phonics in the K-1 classroom and writing informational paragraphs in the 2-4 class. Teachers collaborate to incorporate projects and/or themes into specialty classes, and we often plan field trips, events or holidays around those projects (or vice versa!).
Through our project-based learning approach, we use state standards to guide our instruction, ensuring that we teach critical understandings and foundational knowledge in each subject at varying grade levels and degrees of complexity. Our teachers differentiate for each student and meet them where they are - creating emergent learning experiences unique to each child but rooted in research-based practices and pedagogy. We creatively teach creative students!
What state curriculum is used?
We use a variety of curricula, inspiration and guidance to plan our instruction. Through our project-based learning approach, we use state standards to guide our instruction, ensuring that we teach critical understandings and foundational knowledge in each subject at varying grade levels and degrees of complexity. Though we are not bound to state assessments, we use diagnostic and progress-monitoring assessments in literacy and math to track student progress.
In public school, subjects like critical race theory, sexual education, band/orchestra, etc is covered (though I think you can opt out) How would this school handle these other subjects?
This school year, our oldest students are fourth graders, which means that many of these subjects have not entered our conversations as of yet. However, we will continue to use research-based strategies in all of our teaching, including representation of cultural diversity, health education, and music instruction.
Are students required to complete standardized testing that public school students have to?
Though we are not bound to state assessments, we use diagnostic and progress-monitoring assessments in literacy and math to track student progress. These are completed 3 times per year and discussed together with families. These are brief one-on-one tasks with a teacher. Students also complete goal-setting and student-led conferences.
What are all the subjects covered?
RWS is an arts-integrated school that uses project-based learning as a complementary approach. Though there may be several subjects included in any particular project, they are studying them through real-world application and problem-solving - using the design process from both art and science. However, we also teach subjects discretely, such as specialty classes like Music, Science, Spanish, and Dance, as well as Math and Reading workshops. There are also specific times for skills instruction like phonics in the K-1 classroom and writing informational paragraphs in the 2-4 class. Teachers collaborate to incorporate projects and/or themes into specialty classes, and we often plan field trips, events or holidays around those projects (or vice versa!).
Through our project-based learning approach, we use state standards to guide our instruction, ensuring that we teach critical understandings and foundational knowledge in each subject at varying grade levels and degrees of complexity. Our teachers differentiate for each student and meet them where they are - creating emergent learning experiences unique to each child but rooted in research-based practices and pedagogy. We creatively teach creative students!
What state curriculum is used?
We use a variety of curricula, inspiration and guidance to plan our instruction. Through our project-based learning approach, we use state standards to guide our instruction, ensuring that we teach critical understandings and foundational knowledge in each subject at varying grade levels and degrees of complexity. Though we are not bound to state assessments, we use diagnostic and progress-monitoring assessments in literacy and math to track student progress.
In public school, subjects like critical race theory, sexual education, band/orchestra, etc is covered (though I think you can opt out) How would this school handle these other subjects?
This school year, our oldest students are fourth graders, which means that many of these subjects have not entered our conversations as of yet. However, we will continue to use research-based strategies in all of our teaching, including representation of cultural diversity, health education, and music instruction.
Are students required to complete standardized testing that public school students have to?
Though we are not bound to state assessments, we use diagnostic and progress-monitoring assessments in literacy and math to track student progress. These are completed 3 times per year and discussed together with families. These are brief one-on-one tasks with a teacher. Students also complete goal-setting and student-led conferences.
SAFE AND INCLUSIVE
How do you accommodate a child with a specific need?
Our goal is to ensure that all of our students are in a safe environment. We encourage play and imagination here and focus on teaching our students the process they explore to learn rather than the products they make. Each child has specific needs and those individual needs would need to be discussed and explored before we could definitively say if it would be a good fit or not.
How do you accommodate a child with a specific need?
Our goal is to ensure that all of our students are in a safe environment. We encourage play and imagination here and focus on teaching our students the process they explore to learn rather than the products they make. Each child has specific needs and those individual needs would need to be discussed and explored before we could definitively say if it would be a good fit or not.
ENROLLMENT
Are there openings during the school year?
Yes, we take registrations thorough the year
Are there openings during the school year?
Yes, we take registrations thorough the year
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TOUR THE SCHOOL |
HOW IT STARTEDEven though we may sound like a brand new school, our stories began a long time ago with Gabriel, the creator of the RWSAS and her journey that led to accomplishing her dreams! Meet Gabriel and learn about her story ! |
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PROJECT BASED LEARNINGIn this video teacher Jennifer will explain to us what project-based learning is and the benefit of art integration in our classroom. |
ART MATERIALSOur teachers sharing the incredible variety of art materials their students have access to in their classrooms. |
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