Lower School

In Lower School, we use the workshop approach in reading and writing. This approach is effective because it allows everyone to work right on their own level.

• Mini-Lesson: Teachers introduce a skill or strategy that all students can apply.
• Independent Work: Students practice individually, while teachers provide small group or one-on-one support and differentiation.
• Reflection and Sharing: Students share their work, fostering community, reflection, and peer learning.
• Daily Writing Practice: Students write narratives, informational pieces, and opinions, developing these skills through journals and projects.
• Grades 3-4 Expansion: Teachers introduce advanced strategies for reading and writing, leading to more extensive writing pieces.
• Word Study:
  • K-2 Phonics: Daily lessons from the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) build reading and writing foundations.
  • Grades 3-4 Vocabulary and Spelling: Words Their Way reinforces phonics, spelling patterns, and vocabulary.

Our math program, Everyday Math, is from the University of Chicago. This curriculum is hands-on and emphasizes:

• The use of concrete, real-life examples that are meaningful and memorable
• Repeated exposure through a spiraled approach
• Frequent practice of basic computation skills
• And the use of multiple methods and problem-solving strategies to foster true proficiency and accommodate different learning styles.

Everyday Mathematics builds on fundamental mathematical strands: numeration and computation, data and chance, measurement and reference forms, geometry, and pattern, function and algebra. As the grade levels progress, the work done in each strand becomes more complex.

At ROBS, our K-4 Science curriculum ignites curiosity and fosters a hands-on approach to learning, guided by the Next Generation Science Standards. Highlights of the program include:

• Engaging Topics: Students explore a variety of scientific themes, such as nocturnal animals, simple machines, the water cycle, and the forces of nature.
• Hands-On Experiments: Activities include feeling sound vibrations with tuning forks, observing friction by propelling balls across surfaces, and wrapping rubber bands around a watermelon to witness explosive energy.
• Real-World Connections: Students connect science to everyday life by building solar ovens, simulating volcanic eruptions, and investigating plant growth.
• Critical Thinking Development: Projects and experiments encourage inquiry, discovery, and problem-solving to prepare students for real-world challenges.
• Inspiring Curiosity: The curriculum fosters a sense of wonder, inviting students to embrace the mystery and beauty of the natural world.

Through active learning and exploration, students gain the skills and mindset needed to approach science with confidence and excitement.

Social Studies in Lower School fosters understanding of personal and national identity, encouraging students to see themselves as active participants in their communities and beyond. Students explore expanding concepts of community, citizenship, and history.

• Kindergarten: Introduction to wants and needs, basic economics, and cultural awareness.
• 1st Grade: Focus on community roles, famous figures, map skills, and creating a "Presidential platform" to envision personal impact.
• 2nd Grade: Emphasis on citizenship, personal heritage, and community changes, linking academics with character development.
• 3rd Grade: History focus, including Texas history and "Famous Texan Day," where students research and portray historical figures.
• 4th Grade: American history through key events, migration, and westward expansion, with collaborative projects and persuasive presentations on U.S. regions.

In our Lower School, study of the arts occur in every grade level, fostering creativity, confidence, and an appreciation for artistic expression. Guided by experienced educators, students engage in music, art, and theatre, discovering a wide range of artistic forms and techniques. By creating self-portraits and abstract works inspired by artists like Alma Woodsey Thomas and Frida Kahlo to learning about rhythm, melody, stage presence and bringing characters to life, each experience builds both skill and self-expression. Students grow in courage as they perform at events like Grandparents & Special Friends Day or their beloved Second Grade Christmas Musical. Whether through weaving inspired by Mexican traditions, thumbprint art à la Ed Emberly, playful clay pop art in the style of Wayne Thiebaud, or playing ukuleles and recorders, students develop a strong foundation in fine arts. Our program emphasizes the joy of individual voice through artistic creation and the importance of process over product, encouraging every child to appreciate the arts as both a personal journey and a window to the broader world. All this practice culminates in the artistic pinnacle of the Lower School years: a Fourth Grade Broadway-style musical.

The Lower School Exploratory Spanish program at ROBS introduces students in kindergarten through fourth grade to the Spanish language and the diverse cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. As part of their enrichment classes, students engage in fun, immersive lessons designed to develop foundational skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Rooted in the World-Readiness Standards, the program emphasizes effective communication, cultural competence, interdisciplinary connections, language comparisons, and participation in multilingual communities. By exploring vocabulary, phrases, and cultural traditions, students cultivate global awareness and an appreciation for cultural diversity. Lessons foster comprehension strategies and cognitive skills while inspiring curiosity about the broader world. Beginning in kindergarten with twice-weekly sessions and increasing to three times a week by second grade, the program builds year by year to nurture cultural understanding and global citizenship. Through these meaningful experiences, students prepare for a future of interconnectedness in an ever-globalized world.