Curriculum

List of 7 items.

• Reading

  A comprehensive, balanced literacy approach encourages students to become motivated readers and derive knowledge and meaning from what they read. Students learn early reading strategies that help them build sequential skills, decode unfamiliar words, read fluently, and develop reading comprehension skills. As students transition from our lower grades Reading curriculum to our upper grades Literature curriculum, students build on their early comprehension skills to become critical and joyful readers with the ability to analyze and infer, identify authorial intent, interpret figurative language, and appreciate and enjoy fine literature. Our faculty are trained in and utilize a variety of literacy tools and approaches including From Phonics to Reading, Readers Workshop, Orton Gillingham, Depth and Complexity, and CommonLit.

• Writing

  Students develop a strong foundation using Writing by Design's Six Traits of Writing: Idea, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions. Carefully building from Kindergarten through 6th grade, our program includes developmental and inventive writing in the younger grades building toward expository, narrative, persuasive and research assignments in the upper grades. The use of rubrics and portfolio assessment guides students through the writing process. Grammar and spelling instruction are an integral part of the writing curriculum. 

• Mathematics

  Our core math program is Math in Focus, a curriculum based on the Singapore Math approach. Math in Focus emphasizes deep, conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization. In practice, this means spending more time on fewer topics to build a strong foundation, using multiple strategies like bar models or visual representations before moving to abstract equations, and applying math to real-life situations through word problems. Teachers encourage students to explain their reasoning, fostering critical thinking and communication, while also tailoring practice to meet individual needs.

• Science

  Science instruction engages students to learn about our natural world through inquiry and hands-on discovery in our interactive Science Lab. Using the Into Science curriculum and its 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate), students’ natural curiosity is used to build skills in inquiry, while experimentation and design thinking approaches foster analysis, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

• Social Studies

  Utilizing Scholastic News in the primary grades and the Teachers’ Curriculum Institute program in the upper grades, students engage in active learning that emphasizes perspective-taking, historical inquiry, and civic understanding. By exploring multiple viewpoints and applying concepts to contemporary contexts, students develop cultural competence, empathy, and critical thinking. Signature grade-level projects—such as the Grade 1 American Adventure, Grade 3 Environmental Fair, and Grade 4 Soaring Through California Project—extend classroom learning into experiential, performance-based applications.

• Hebrew Language

  Our Hebrew language program nurtures students’ sense of identity, connection, and belonging while providing the benefits of second language acquisition—strengthened cognitive development, problem-solving, and communication skills. Hebrew as a second language is taught through an immersive approach beginning in Kindergarten. Beginning in the 3rd grade year, students work in small  flexible groups that allow for differentiated learning and support a variety of Hebrew proficiency levels. Through Hebrew, students also develop the ability to access prayer and text in original form, deepening their ties to Jewish life and preparing for B'nai Mitzvah. 

• Judaic Studies

  The Judaic Studies program fosters understanding of Jewish texts, traditions, history and values while developing critical thinking and ethical reasoning. Through explorations of Jewish history, and usage of the Pedagogy of Partnership approach, students develop skills in inquiry, perspective-taking, and constructive debate that prepare them to navigate complexity and contribute thoughtfully to society. Through the study of Jewish text and prayer, students learn to analyze and discuss what they read, preparing them to both question and appreciate the written and spoke word. Through the study and experience of Jewish practice and values, our students learn to live a thoughtful and engaged Jewish life.