Lower School at Stratford
Grades 1 through 5
Freedom for a Love of Learning
At our Lower School, we believe in sparking a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. Our passionate teachers and assistants create a nurturing, dynamic environment where every child feels safe, supported, and inspired to thrive. We focus on developing the whole child by building self-awareness, confidence, and a strong academic foundation that encourages students to take meaningful risks and embrace new challenges with enthusiasm.
Lower School Core Curriculum
Language Arts
Literacy That Builds Confidence
Reading is at the heart of everything we do, with faculty from preschool through lower school trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach to ensure a consistent, research-based foundation in phonics and comprehension. Through rich, diverse literature, students build vocabulary, fluency, and the confidence to become lifelong readers.
Mathematics
A Smarter Approach to Math
Our Lower School math instruction is grounded in the Singapore Math approach, prioritizing conceptual understanding and real-world problem-solving over rote memorization. By focusing on fewer topics in greater depth, students master foundational skills and build the critical thinking needed for advanced math and everyday applications.
Science
Hands-On Science That Sparks Curiosity
Our inquiry-based science program is designed to inspire wonder and exploration. Students observe, question, and investigate the world around them, laying the groundwork for scientific thinking and discovery from an early age.
Social Studies
A Journey Through Time
Our Social Studies program, rooted in the Core Knowledge approach, takes students on a journey through time from prehistory to the modern day, exploring both World and American History. Each grade level builds on the last, helping students gain a deeper understanding of how civilizations developed, interacted, and shaped the world we live in today.
Spanish
A Progressive, Developmentally Appropriate Approach
Our Spanish curriculum introduces lower school students to the language through a progressive, developmentally appropriate approach. As students progress, they expand their skills through interactive games, sentence building, and cultural exploration, gradually increasing their independence in using Spanish to describe themselves and the world around them.
Health and Well-Being
Supporting Physical, Social, and Emotional Growth
The physical education and food-focused nutrition programs at Stratford Academy Lower School support students' physical, social, and emotional growth. Movement-based instruction encourages teamwork and fosters a positive attitude toward fitness and physical activity. Additionally, our farm-to-table dining program introduces students to a variety of fresh, locally grown foods.
A Well-Rounded Experience
Our Lower School provides a diverse range of activities that nurture creativity, expand horizons, and promote healthy development. From music and visual arts to cursive writing, keyboarding, and Spanish, students enjoy a rich blend of experiences. Every day at our school is an opportunity for discovery, growth, and achievement.
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Meet The Lower School Team
