A Day at Northwood Cottage School

Within the nurturing, multi-age setting of Northwood Cottage School, our students develop strong academic skills and a lifelong curiosity supported by explicit instruction, high-engagement practice, and guided inquiry throughout the day.

Northwood Cottage School Curriculum

  • Our math program develops strong, flexible mathematicians ready for future challenges. Our students use the concrete-representational-abstract approach, including number bonds, bar models, and mental math, to support deep understanding of mathematical concepts.

    Engaging, hands-on tasks inspire curiosity and encourage creative problem solving, showing students there are often many ways to solve a problem.

    • Spelling & Phonics: We teach phonics through systematic and sequential instruction, empowering students to deeply understand the English language through reliable phonics rules. Joyful games and activities bring keep our students engaged as they master English.

    • Literacy: Full novel studies develop our students’ reading comprehension skills and vocabulary, while encouraging a love of classic and contemporary literature. Through book clubs, students engage in deep discussions about shared reading and respond to their reading in writing.

    • Writing: In addition to formal instruction in grammar, our students learn explicit strategies for planning, revising, and editing their work across during cross-curricular projects in our Explorations block. Our writers are confident engaging in multiple genres of writing including narrative, opinion, research, poetry, and more.

  • Each trimester, our students explore interconnected science and social studies themes. Within these units, we build deep knowledge by engaging with complex texts, conducting research, and creating projects.

    To solidify their understanding, students construct their own record of learning. This involves capturing key information and insights through written notes, visual diagrams, concept maps, timelines, and more – compiling a unique record tailored to their exploration of the topic.

    Within each of these units, our students are encouraged to identify patterns and forge connections—linking science and social studies concepts while also relating them to art, Spanish, and the wider world.

  • Social & Emotional Learning and executive functioning skills are seamlessly integrated into daily life at our school. Teachers plan lessons and seize teachable moments based on the evolving needs of the community.

Whole School Meeting

We begin the day by connecting as a school through our morning meetings. During this daily connection time, we will discuss the day’s schedule, review the calendar for special upcoming events, and build community through our Social-Emotional Learning and Executive Functioning Skills lessons. Twice a week, we will use this time to focus our minds and bodies through yoga class.

Foundations

We capitalize on our fresh minds and renewed focus in core subjects through our Foundations block. Math, reading, phonics, grammar, writing, and spellin lessons are taught by a certified teacher in small, ability-level groups to ensure mastery.

Mid-Day Break

Our students benefit from a one-hour lunch and recess break, a vital time for restoring both mind and body. Understanding the regenerative impact of fresh air on well-being, we make every effort to hold this unstructured period outdoors.

Explorations

The heart of the Northwood Cottage School experience, our Explorations block is a school-wide deep dive into science and social studies topics. Students build their knowledge through guided inquiry using complex text sets and experiential learning, as teachers stress the relationships and relevance between topics and the students’ lives. Students analyze and present their big ideas through art, creative writing, research, and presentations.

Speciality Experiences

Students at Northwood Cottage School engage in a vibrant week that includes yoga twice a week, weekly physical education, art, and Spanish instruction, and regular access to our full-service library. We further enrich their learning through in-house field trips, visits from special guests, and walking excursions to Montie Beach Park.

Student Showcase

Twice annually, our students take ownership of their learning by carefully selecting and presenting their most impactful work to family and friends. These exhibitions offer a window into their learning journey, their artistic talents, and the exciting discoveries made through projects in our Explorations units.