Academics
A Whole Child Education
At Canterbury, students in every grade level benefit from a challenging academic program that develops fundamental skills in reading, mathematics, writing, science, and social studies, and an enriched course of study that includes art, music, physical education, and foreign language. Learning is enhanced by state-of-the-art technology, which teachers integrate fully into classroom instruction. Our preschool-8th grade setting allows students at every age to take on age-appropriate leadership opportunities.
We hire teachers who love children and who are experts in their field. More than 60 percent of our faculty members have advanced degrees. Because there are about 16 students in each class, teachers are able to develop a supportive relationship with each student, providing extra help when appropriate and extra challenge when the student is ready.
Canterbury Math Program
At Canterbury, the transition from lower to middle school mathematics is intentional. It’s exciting to see how the processes our students are learning in the lower school are preparing them for math in middle school and beyond. Math In Focus is used for grades K-4 and incorporates the widely used Singapore approach to math. “Singapore Math, originally developed in its namesake country, is a method of teaching students to learn and master fewer mathematical concepts in greater detail. These concepts are taught using a three-step learning process: concrete, pictorial, and abstract. Concrete learning has the students use actual objects such as chips, dice, or counters to manipulate a problem. Pictorial learning refers to when students draw a picture to represent a problem, and abstract learning is using numbers and symbols to solve a problem. Whenever a new concept or type of problem is introduced, students of all ages use the concrete, pictorial, and abstract steps.”
Math In Focus is an excellent program to help students transition into the Connected Mathematics Program (CMP) in the middle school grades. They each require students to think and understand the “why” behind the mathematics they are learning. CMP, is problem-centered and based on National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards for grades 6-8. The program seeks to make connections within mathematics, between mathematics and other subject areas, and to the real world. Each unit of the curriculum contains investigations or explorations to be done in class. Then, extensive problem sets are included for each investigation to help students practice, apply, connect, and extend these understandings. These math practices require students to look deeper and connect problem solving to practical situations. It connects mathematical ideas to students’ everyday world! Beginning in 7th grade, students are offered high school level courses. The chart below shows the progression of our math courses in middle school.
Middle School Mathematics Courses
|
Grade Level |
Math Courses |
|
|
5th grade |
Math 5 |
|
|
6th grade |
Math 6 |
|
|
7th grade |
Algebra IA* |
Algebra I* |
|
8th grade |
Algebra IB* |
Geometry* (Integrated Math II) |
*high school level courses:
Geometry - an Algebra & Geometry Integrated Math II course
Algebra I - a traditional full year of Algebra I
Algebra IA - the first half of Algebra I
Algebra IB - the second half of Algebra I
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LS and MS Specialist Programs 2022-23
Enrichment classes are woven throughout the Canterbury program at all ages. With specialists throughout the campus, students benefit from a wide variety of specialty classes.
Scrolls left/right
|
Cubs and PreK |
Kindergarten-3rd Grade |
4th Grade |
5th Grade |
6th-8th Grade |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LS Electives - 22-23 |
MS Electives - Tri 1 |
|||
|
Creating a Newspaper Chess Card Games Turning Waste into Science Art Stems and Roots and Leaves...Oh My! |
Baking 101 Geography Bee Science Art Ancient Greek Personal Finance Lab Episcapella Handbells In The Garden Game Night |
Academic Spotlight on Electives
At Canterbury, we are committed to a whole child approach to education. Our elective courses reinforce this philosophy by providing the opportunity for students to explore their varied interests. Some examples of electives are ancient Greek, baking, and chess. There is an excitement around the elective choices offered to our 6th-8th grade students each semester. Teachers, along with parent volunteers, “pitch” the courses they are passionate about to our students. Students rank their choices and await with anticipation the reveal of the class rosters! This process has been a tradition in the middle school for many years and as of last year the 4th graders also select elective courses that they will take each for each trimester.
Baking 101 with Middle School
Turning Waste in Science Art with 4th Grade
Robotics with Middle School
