Elementary Program

Achieving Academic Success

Constructing a personalized program: Every student engages in a personalized course of study based upon their learning needs and preferences. We create a unique schedule for every child with a combination of individual appointments and small group classes, instructed by an enthusiastic team of teachers who love what they do.

As unique as they are: Every child’s school program is unique at Chrysalis. Our placement team carefully selects teachers, classes, and experiences for each child based on their interests, abilities, and needs. Our goal is to create an Optimal Learning Environment™ for every subject, to ensure a positive, successful learning environment. We allow every child to work at their “just right” level of challenge, which minimizes stress and optimizes learning. 

Working at their own level: All students have 1-1 appointments in their schedule with their teachers, who tailor the class and focus on their learning needs specifically. Our teachers have access to a variety of curricula across grade levels, so students can learn any skill in any grade. Students may work at grade level in some subjects, above grade level in others, and take their time to really learn the material in subjects where they struggle. 

Learning alongside peers: We also offer both small and larger group experiences throughout the school day. Our small groups are composed of 12 students or fewer in multi-age classes formed with students’ personalities, social maturity, and academic ability in mind. These teacher-directed groups engage in hands-on, discussion-based group learning activities. 

Group classes: Our larger group environments (12+) are more student-driven or movement-oriented throughout the day, including multiple opportunities for PE, activity period, and an hour-long lunch and recess. Group class eligibility is determined by the availability of like-learners who are interested in the class and the student’s ability to meet group class expectations. 

Childhood is Now

Experiencing play in their day: Free play is essential in the development of the child. We emphasize joyful, playful learning throughout students’ days, with a combination of times for free play and teacher-directed activities. 

Having a voice and choice: Child-driven, unstructured time supports development of problem-solving, decision-making, and goal-setting abilities, social and emotional maturity, self-direction, and sense of control. It’s important for students to have choice about the activities they engage in during the day. Time to play and process information is highly valued. Students have unstructured ”activity periods” in their day to play with friends and choose their own activities. 

Finding their strengths: We believe that school is a place to uncover and build a child’s strengths by putting opportunities for growth in their path. A student’s program should reflect who they are–that means lots of arts classes for some, extra STEM classes for others, or some combination of everything. Students are more engaged and more apt to build foundational learning skills when their school day reflects what sparks their interests and curiosity. 

Community

Finding their village: Community is everything at Chrysalis. We believe that when students feel respected and are treated with the dignity they deserve, they learn to practice it regularly with others. We purposefully promote kindness, cooperation, and the importance of everyday life lessons. Taking time out of the day to have 1-1 conversations about friendships, feelings, manners, and safety are commonplace and crucial contributions to student growth. We work hard to maintain a positive school culture where every student feels safe and valued as a member of our school community.

Developing healthy relationships: We have a high staff to student ratio (1:3), so there are plenty of opportunities for students to develop relationships with teachers and students.

Participating in events and activities: We plan a variety of social activities that occur throughout the year including field trip experiences, holiday parties, theme days, spirit weeks, and games. Parents are invited to events throughout the year for students to share their Chrysalis experience with their families.

Learning to LOVE learning: Our ultimate goal is for every child we enroll to experience success throughout their educational journey and learn to LOVE school and learning along the way. 

Developmental Considerations

Meeting them where they are: Many children learn skills like reading “on time.” But others develop them early and require more challenge, or take longer to develop them and need specialized instruction. Neither of these needs can be met in a traditional grade-level classroom. When students are met with a curriculum that takes their interests, level, and developmental readiness in mind, they will make more gains. 

Stacking the odds for success: Research shows the importance of eliminating stress from the school environment to promote learning. The brain works at optimal levels in positive emotional states. At Chrysalis, we know we need relaxed brains to work with, so we create conditions that allow for them: allowing students to work at their “just right” level of challenge, reducing competition, creating a positive social culture, and giving them time during their day to process what they’ve learned and prepare for their next task all support that goal.

Elementary Schedules

Students rotate from class to class and teacher to teacher throughout the day. Our core academic classes are offered Monday through Thursday and optional elective classes are offered on Fridays.