Early Elementary at New City School

In Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade, the school day is structured through a workshop approach. Students work in partnerships, reason independently, and then come together as a group to explain their thinking. Each day is filled with a thoughtful balance of inquiry, direct instruction, small group learning, and individualized coaching and feedback. Morning Meeting and Closing Circle serve as bookends of the day and provide opportunities for important community building activities. Teachers use these routines to build a sense of belonging, which is critical for higher level academic success.

Math concepts are taught through a “CPA” progression (concrete, pictorial, abstract) with initial exploration of concrete manipulatives, followed by analyzing pictorial examples, which lays the foundation to introduce abstract representations of numerical values. Reading and writing partnerships and student-led book clubs foster students’ ability to give and receive constructive feedback. Dedicated presentation time known as “shares” encourages students to find their voice and to be active listeners.