The Lower School at MCDS consists of Kindergarten through fourth grades. There are three homerooms at each grade level. Each homeroom has 18-20 students and one full-time head teacher. In Kindergarten and first and second grades, there is also one part-time assistant teacher in each homeroom. In grades three and four, there is one full-time assistant teacher for each grade level. There are approximately 280 students in the Lower School.
Program
Children grow and learn in different ways and at a varying pace. The Lower School program is designed to challenge students across a wide range of developmental needs and abilities. Classrooms are highly interactive and teachers work to foster a love of learning.
Learning must be meaningful. It is most meaningful when it occurs in context as part of a bigger whole. Therefore, at MCDS we strive for an integrated curriculum, one in which children learn important and necessary skills through the investigation of challenging and intriguing topics.
Teachers develop an exciting and rigorous curriculum that uses a mixture of progressive and traditional teaching techniques and encourages both individual and group projects. In collaboration with our Technology Department, teachers use the latest technology to enhance academics and creative expression.
The Kindergarten program introduces students to the big world of Marin Country Day School and provides an introduction to lots of different experiences. The program centers around a study of different kinds of farms. Using this theme as a base, students further their knowledge of science, math, language and the world around them. Though the program is "print rich," and there are abundant opportunities to develop reading skills, we do not expect children to learn to read by the end of kindergarten.
In first and second grades, continue to study topics in depth. The snail study, the people study, influential African Americans, and studies of geology, the creek and the bay are important units in these years. Instruction in basic literacy and numeracy skills within a meaningful context continues.
Project-based learning and the inquiry method are hallmarks of our efforts to provide a personalized approach to learning. However, this is balanced with a formal introduction to the reading, writing and mathematics skills that are essential tools for effective learners. Students learn phonics, grammar, punctuation, spelling, computation and problem solving skills each day.
In addition to classroom academics, in third grade students are introduced to world language through a semester of Spanish and a semester of Mandarin. In fourth grade, students choose which language they will study through their future years at MCDS.
Lower School students have two periods of music and art each week and four periods of physical education. Each class visits the library every week. Energy Time (ET), a unique blend of aikido, music and movement is taught three times a week in kindergarten and once a week in the first and second grade. Energy Time fosters self-awareness, social skills and conflict resolution skills.
Service Learning
MCDS has a strong Service Learning program. In the earliest grades, we model the importance of showing respect and compassion to those who are close to us. In addition, we look for concrete, hands-on ways for students to care for others. Awareness of ourselves and our opportunities to care for each other is a cornerstone of our educational goals. As children and adults in our community, we seek ways to help others. "Service Learning" is the satisfaction of doing something for others while learning more about ourselves and our world in the process.
Service learning projects are integrated with classroom learning and are appropriate to the age level. For example, kindergarteners begin their service learning by collecting compost buckets for kindergarten and first grade, while first and second graders expand to serving as Lunch Bunch helpers for Lower School. Fourth graders study native plants as part of their science and social studies program, then work to preserve the open space on neighboring Ring Mountain by removing invasive species.
Teachers
In addition to inspiring and making academics come to life for our students, our teachers model what it means to be life-long learners. Teachers are encouraged to participate in a variety of professional development opportunities throughout the year. Teachers work as teams within each grade level to develop curriculum, to plan activities and to monitor and support children.
