Our challenging curriculum promotes academic excellence, encourages creative exploration and critical thinking, and creates an enduring love of learning. Using an inquiry-based curriculum grounded in contemporary research and theory, we nurture the development of the whole child - intellectually, personally and socially.
What makes our academic program unique is the way in which students are taught, and how we measure success. Throughout the school day, children work individually and in groups, learning that inquiry and interaction can lead to exciting new discoveries. Interdisciplinary projects involve students in problem-solving investigations that foster and teach collaborative learning skills.
We measure our success by the success of each individual student. Educators know that learning is not linear—there is no predicting when the aha! moment will strike for a particular child. Our responsibility and challenge is to create the conditions that enable that moment to occur for each student at exactly the right time.
Our core academic curriculum includes:
Integrated, Inquiry-based Curriculum
Traditionally, schools separate academic instruction into independent,
schedule-driven courses - fifty minutes for reading, fifty minutes for
language arts, fifty minutes for science and mathematics. We depart somewhat
from this conventional approach, believing that children learn best when
they are given the opportunity to see how knowledge and skills from each
of the academic subjects may be combined to help them understand and function
in their world - a theory widely confirmed by the leading authorities
in educational research.
CDS students do learn "traditional" academic knowledge and skills. Our program is special, however, in that they learn by engaging in challenging projects and activities, thereby making connections between ideas, and drawing upon skills traditionally treated in isolation. Thus, a science project on weather might require students to learn and apply knowledge and skills in mathematics, social studies, reading, expository writing and visual arts. Similarly, a short story might serve as the focal point of a unit involving narrative writing and the study of history and culture. Within this context, specific skills are taught and applied. This approach is called project-based learning, and it provides important opportunities for students with various learning styles and strengths to contribute and excel.
While high academic achievement is one result, the ultimate goal of project-based learning is to create independent, curious, self-directed learners who can apply knowledge and deep understanding not only in the realm of abstract theory and thought, but also in the context of real-world problems and situations.
Learn more about project-based learning and see an example of a chicken project completed by our 3-year olds.
Focus on the Whole Child
The CDS faculty helps children develop intellectually, personally and
socially, while maintaining high academic standards and expectations for
achievement. Our teachers use many strategies to bring social and academic
learning together to foster a safe, challenging and happy classroom experience.
Daily class meetings build community, create a positive climate for learning,
reinforce academic and social skills, and provide opportunities for students
to solve problems collectively. We pay close attention to the developmental
needs of all of our students and consider personal and interpersonal growth
important outcomes of our academic programs.
The Responsive Classroom is one of the innovative teaching methods we use to blend academic and social skills into everyday school life. Fully integrated into the curriculum, the Responsive Classroom approach helps our students learn the social skills they need for academic and social success: cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy and self-control.
Learn more about the Responsive Classroom.