At Solid Ground, we integrate language-rich, structured literacy instruction that includes explicit instruction in phonics into our curriculum in the following ways:

• • Whole-group instruction:  Our daily meetings include instruction to help children develop phonemic awareness, language comprehension, and oral language skills through discussion, read-alouds, and direct instruction.

  • Small group and Individual Instruction:  Emerging and independent readers both participate in regular small group instruction to systematically develop phonemic awareness, phonics skills, vocabulary, and reading fluency right where they are.

  • Project Work:  Through incorporating reading and writing into project work, children develop composition skills, take notes, create and consult books for information and practice presentation skills in ways that are meaningful to them.

  • Story-telling:  Children at Solid Ground compose stories, write and act out plays, and create books. This helps children refine their composition skills and also helps them learn the elements of story (think plot, character, setting), which in turn helps their reading comprehension as they become better able to predict and make sense of what they read.

  • Read-alouds: We do A LOT of reading and discussing books at Solid Ground. Teachers read from a variety of book types (picture, chapter, non-fiction, etc.) and lead children in discussions to help them develop a variety of literacy skills.

  • Our ACPL Library Partnership:   Another way we encourage a love of reading is through a partnership with the Athens County Public Libraries to send books home with SGS children.

At Solid Ground, we've focused on growing a love for reading and meaningful engagement with the language arts, and the children have blossomed! Children at SGS want to read, both by themselves and to their peers, and are confident in their ability to learn! Their drive to read and learn comes from within their own hearts and minds--a gift that will keep giving for years to come.

Math at Solid Ground is focused on solving problems, developing a strong number sense, and hands-on learning.  Here's how we approach it:

• • Small-group Instruction:  Children work with teachers in small 2-4 person groups on a regular basis to develop their number sense.  Teachers emphasize developing a strong understanding of important concepts in mathematics (such as the base 10 system) and using that mathematical thinking to solve problems.  These math groups are very hands-on and individualized to the child, with children often moving between groups to match their development in partcular areas.

  • Project Work:  Math is often integrated into project work, where children use math to explore and investigate real-world problems.  They use a variety of tools to take measurements, track data, and think about geometry.  Children also take charge of their own math learning by finding ways to practice fact fluency that are engaging to them, for example, by writing their own chants to memorize multiplication facts 

  • Using the "the third teacher" (the classroom and social environment):  Children at Solid Ground encounter opportunities to play with concepts in mathematics throughout their environment.  From regular opportunities for graphing, to playing board games to practice fact fluency and logic, to working with geometry and engineering in our block area, children engage with math throughout their daily experience.

At Solid Ground, we believe that people deserve to be treated with respect and kindness—and children are people.  We work to lift children up through a caring community, and we understand that children need empathy and support to develop self-discipline.

• • Freedom to Play:  One of the most important ways that children develop their social and emotional skills is through play. Cooperative and imaginary play supports children in developing empathy, impulse control, and communication and negotiation skills. It also allows them to take intellectual, creative, emotional, and physical risks. At Solid Ground School, we provide space and support for children's play to ensure that children have the time and freedom to blossom.

  • Respectful Interactions:  When children are treated with respect and empathy, they not only develop an image of themselves as someone worthy of respect and kindness, but they also develop their own capacity to treat others in kind. We use only positive classroom management strategies to set boundaries with children, working WITH children to build their skills rather than using POWER OVER them.  We nonetheless understand that children feel secure with clear boundaries and expectations, and we work to uphold emotional safety for children by setting clear and open expectations.

  • Intentional Community-Building:  We are committed to nurturing a respectful, supportive, and cooperative culture among students, teachers, and families in the school so that children can grow in the safety of a caring community. We support children in respectfully negotiating their conflicts and additionally have weekly community check-ins and cooperative activities.  

  • Mindfulness and Self-Awareness:  We support children in developing self-regulation skills and mindsight, or their ability to see inside their mind and understand their emotions and thoughts. We help children to learn these skills by offering daily mindfulness, using a common language to "name and tame" their emotions, by supporting them in developing awareness of their emotional state, and by collaborating with them to come up with individual and creative ways to bring themselves back to a regulated state. 

  • Healthy Risk-Taking:  We also believe in supporting children in developing important mindsets and orientations toward learning. For example, we support children in developing growth mindset, in developing perseverance, in taking risks, and in developing an image of themselves as competent and intelligent. To this end, we seek to provide opportunities for children to authentically experience themselves as capable, as curious, and as resilient. 

At Solid Ground, grade bands are loosely organized into 4 different grade-bands as follows:

Roots (Pre-K and Kindergarten):

The Roots have many opportunities for play, exploration, and story throughout their day to nurture their creative and social growth and to develop their budding thinking skills.  They enjoy their own separate space in the cabin, where they have a more flexible schedule and a cozier outdoor space.  By late afternoon each day, the Roots join the rest of the school community for outdoor classes and/or Choice Time, which includes multi-disciplinary project work, child-led classes, and play in mixed age groups. 

Shoots  (Grades 1-2) :

The Shoots have focused time as a group to develop their growing reading and mathematical skills, but also balance their day with time spent in play with their similar-age peers to nurture their creativity and social skills.  By late afternoon each day, the Shoots join the rest of the school community for outdoor classes and Choice Time, which includes multi-disciplinary project work, child-led classes, and play in mixed age groups. 

Saplings (Grades 3-4):

Our middle grades have the entire bottom floor to themselves, sharing 2 teachers for both grades 3/4 and 5/6, allowing 1 teacher to focus on language arts & science work and the other on math and social studies.  Their days give them ample time for extended blocks of focused academic project work in the morning and again in the early afternoon, with breaks for outdoor play in between.  In addition, the Saplings join the entire school community for multi-disciplinary project work, child-led classes, and play in mixed age groups by late afternoon. 

Branches (Grades 5-6):

Our middle grades have the entire bottom floor to themselves, sharing 2 teachers for both grades 3/4 and 5/6, allowing 1 teacher to focus on language arts & science work and the other on math and social studies.  Their days give them ample time for extended blocks of focused academic project work in the morning and again in the early afternoon, with breaks for outdoor play in between.  In addition, the Branches join the entire school community for multi-disciplinary project work, child-led classes, and play in mixed age groups by late afternoon.