The Christel House educational program includes enhanced national and state-mandated educational objectives, implemented with a strong focus on art, music, life skills & character development. Students participate in service learning projects and are exposed to an internationally focused perspective on the world.
In addition to learning academic basics, students learn how to apply these skills in a real-world setting.
Using research based programs as our foundation, teachers are encouraged to develop unique and creative lesson that challenge and enrich our students’ learning.
Opening in August 2010, the Wantanabe High School program at Christel House Academy-- rooted in Outward Bound, the high school program combines Expeditionary Learning principles with Christel House practices.
Expeditionary Learning curriculum is designed to promote critical thinking skills, academic achievement, and personal development through the use of in-depth investigations that engage students in community, projects, and service. An expedition brings experts into the classroom, takes students into the field, and engages students in real world learning experiences.
Mathematics
Lower Academy, K-5
Everyday Mathematics is a research-based curriculum developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. It is scientifically proven to build students' mathematical knowledge from the basics to higher-order thinking and critical problem solving.
Features:
Junior Academy, 6-8
6th grade utilizes Prentice Hall Mathematics Course 1, 7th grade uses Prentice Hall Pre-Algebra, and 8th grade uses Prentice Hall Algebra I. All three courses emphasize daily lessons that engage students in real life problem solving, chapter projects, daily note taking, and a variety of assessments.
Parents can access homework assistance in the Pearson Homework Center http://ph.infoplease.com/homework/
Language Arts
Treasures is a McGraw-Hill reading curriculum built upon a foundation of research supporting the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the program focuses on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension. The program also provides a variety of validated assessment tools that help teachers to identify strengths and weaknesses, plan instruction and meet the needs of all students. Explicit, systematic instruction and research proven routines meet all requirements of NCLB insuring Adequate Yearly Progress for students.
Glencoe Literature: Reading with Purpose (Grades 6-8) -- the first research-based middle school language arts program effectively combining the necessary foundation of strong sequential skills development with the successful reading of classic and contemporary literature.
Waterford is a nationally recognized and research-based computer program that highly successful elementary schools are implementing to increase student achievement. Waterford is a comprehensive program for grades K-2 that helps students develop fluency in phonological awareness, letter recognition, keyboarding, and reading comprehension.
Step Up to Writing is a mulisensory approach to teaching effective writing strategies. In the program, students learn to improve reading, writing, listening and speaking skills; while developing clear, concise and organized papers.
English as a Second Language
Treasure Chest is a comprehensive program for English language learners. Instructional activities are focused in four areas- listening, speaking, reading and writing.
LAS Links Benchmark Assessments are used to measure and report student progress throughout the year. Using this data, teachers can tailor instruction to meet changing needs during the school year to meet Title III compliance.
Science
The Full Option Science System builds on a philosophy of learning developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkley, California. It has guided the development of successful active-learning science curricula for more than 25 years.
The FOSS program is built on 5 major instructional pedagogies:
Social Studies
Social Studies Alive! is used in grades K-5 and History Alive! is used in Junior Academy. Both programs are integrated, allowing students to see connections between classroom activities, the history, and their lives today. Students learn historical concepts and remember important details about history through interactive lessons.
