Academics
Program Overview
At Armstrong, we develop each child’s areas of growth and also identify and foster areas of strength.
Our goal is to nurture confident, self-aware learners who can:
- Understand and articulate their learning strengths and areas of growth
- Pursue areas of interest and develop passions and talents
- Advocate for their learning and social-emotional needs
- Approach academics and life with confidence and enthusiasm
Our Approach
List of 6 items.
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Embedded Social-Emotional Learning
- Staff forms close individual relationships with students
- Responsive Classroom approach cultivates belonging, significance, engagement, and fun
- Mindfulness practices
- Lower and middle school counselors on site
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Informed by Research & Data
- Ongoing collaborative conversations about student progress
- Research partnership with UCSF Dyslexia Center
- Student assessments:
- Track My Progress – reading & math (4 times/year)
- Oral Reading Fluency (3 times/year)
- Wilson-based reading assessments (2 times/year)
- Curriculum-based assessments & progress monitoring (ongoing)
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Multisensory Methodology
- All teaching incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements
- Movement incorporated into teaching in all content areas
- Flexible seating options such as stools, wiggle cushions, standing desks, Thera-bands
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Small Group Instruction
- Literacy programs – students placed into Wilson, Just Words, Fundations, READ180 or Tier 1 reading groups
- Math program – incorporates several curricula and approaches, including Jo Boaler’s Math Mindsets and Swun Math.
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Technology Integration
- 1:1 iPads for all students
- Full-time technology integration specialist provides instructional support
- Digital Citizenship curriculum from Common Sense Media
- Makerspace
- Students trained to use assistive technology, e.g. voice-to-text, organizational strategies
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Training & Instructional Support
- Instructional coaching team to support
- Best practices in the classroom
- Differentiation
- Curriculum planning & integration
- Training and support for literacy programs
- Professional development
- Embedded weekly training & instructional support
- Financial & logistical support for outside conferences and training
