Our deepest and most important underlying assumption is that students create their own meanings and understandings through their interactions with materials and other people.  They are curious and interested in figuring things out.  It is the teacher’s job to notice how each child interacts with materials, and ask questions or provide materials and instruction that lead to the next step.  We pay careful attention to what students can do and are interested in doing.  Our integrated approach allows students to explore different disciplines using a variety of media and activities.  Learning is maximized as students utilize personal strengths and cultivate individual gifts.

Our program places emphasis on learning academics through the arts, while allowing children to develop a sense of interpersonal and intrapersonal awareness as they learn communication and conflict resolution skills.  The multicultural, anti-bias curriculum helps children learn to appreciate differences as well as to understand themselves.

Santa Barbara Charter School has a flexible curriculum based on the California State Standards. We focus on uncovering rather than covering curriculum.  While learning objectives are similar to those of other local districts, our methodology is non-traditional and differs significantly from local schools.  Instruction is concrete, interactive, and experiential.  Meeting individual needs while attending to the needs of the whole group is a priority.  Children often work individually, in pairs, or in small groups.  Whole group lessons are individualized by asking questions of varying difficulty and sophistication.

Language Arts

A whole language approach is used, encouraging students to become speakers and listeners, as well as readers and writers.  Students receive direct instruction in phonics.  They are exposed to literature at the earliest ages and learn to read for meaning.  Beginning in kindergarten, children are exposed to a rich variety of written and oral language.   Studying folklore, classics, and modern children’s literature opens up a world of fantasy and imagination, encouraging children to explore the written word through rich language experience.  Children learn to decode and comprehend as they are introduced to quality literature.

Written communication is a primary focus.  Students develop their skills as expository, persuasive, and creative writers. Writer’s Workshop is an important part of the curriculum.  Students “publish” written pieces on a regular basis.  Writing is used to help children explore both interpersonal and intrapersonal issues.  Recording one’s own experience, imaginary stories, poems, plays, and research reports is an essential aspect of the students’ training.    Students write across the disciplines, often developing critical thinking skills as they learn to express mathematical and scientific concepts in words.  Finally, students use writing to reflect upon their own work and come to understand themselves as learners.

Mathematics

Current math research indicates that ongoing interaction with concrete materials and investigative activities are the best preparation for higher mathematics.  Familiarity with arithmetic facts is an outgrowth of deep conceptual understanding, repeated practice, and experience with identifying and creating patterns.  Text adoptions made in both elementary and middle school include comprehensive skills required for full participation in a high school math program.  Effort is made to enrich and support students who either excel in or struggle with math.

Students at SBCS are introduced to mathematics as a part of every day life.  The study of mathematics helps students to develop critical thinking skills, as well as make logical arguments and valid inferences.  Mathematics instruction is experiential, interactive, investigative, and concrete, with an emphasis on exploration and discovery using hands-on learning materials and manipulatives.

Students are encouraged, throughout their school experience, to develop the spirit of inquiry and curiosity through the study of each strand of mathematics:  number theory, computation, statistics and  probability, algebra, geometry, and measurement.  At times, math lessons are linked thematically to the literature, social studies, and science that a group is studying.

The Arts

Arts are taught as a substantive multi-cultural discipline, as well as a methodology to enrich instruction across the curriculum.  When arts are taught as a substantive discipline, students develop critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills.  Learning through the arts is seen as fundamental to success in every other discipline.  Classroom teachers often integrate visual arts, crafts, music, movement, dance and drama into the daily program.

It is understood that artists bring an intensity and focus to their own field which is uniquely inspiring to children, so specialists are an important part of our program. Students are exposed to specialists in both visual and performing arts throughout their education at Santa Barbara Charter School.  The exploration process is as important as creating products.  While artistic exploration often results in performances and or projects, students are encouraged to embrace the challenges of the creative process for its own sake.

Students are introduced to great artists and works of art throughout their educational career.  The on-site arts program is supplemented by many trips into the community to see performances and exhibits.  Students are taught to be an astute and appreciative audience as part of their ongoing educational experience; these skills are usefully applied on field trips.  Attending these performances and visiting exhibits helps develop a deep sense of appreciation of the arts by facilitating the development of both experience and aesthetics.

Two special art traditions are a defining influence at Santa Barbara Charter School.  Beginning in kindergarten, students participate in an articulated fiber arts program and final exhibition.  Similarly, students perform in an annual class or school play.  Students enthusiastically anticipate these activities and demonstrate remarkable creativity and talent in both areas.

Science

{mosimage}Science at Santa Barbara Charter School is built around the theme of “Inquiry, Interdependence, and Reasoning as a part of a Scientific Community.”  Students discover the exciting world of natural phenomena through the study of science.  The science program is both “minds-on” and “hands-on”. Students study Physical, Life, and Earth Science as part of a structured program.  We seize teachable moments when they occur for scientific investigation whether or not we are formally studying a subject.  Science curriculum is arranged along thematic lines, focusing on Energy, Evolution, Patterns of Change, Scale and Structure, Stability, and Systems and Interaction.  Students use the scientific method  They learn to  replicate experiments, generate hypotheses, gather and record data, analyze results, and pose new questions. These themes are explored through the study of particular content areas at each grade level.  Study of other content areas is often initiated through student interest, literature, and social studies.

Our school gardens allow students to explore both earth science and life science.  Students may spend time in the garden as part of class or during recess.  The garden is arranged thematically.  In some areas, students have the opportunity to grow food which will be consumed, sold, or donated to the food bank.  The garden provides a particularly vivid environmental awareness experience.

While much of the science curriculum is initiated by teachers, students have many opportunities to initiate science studies on their own.  Students engage in the scientific process.  They learn to test ideas, observe results, hypothesize, and analyze data.  The Science Fair is one culminating event which encourages students to explore an area which is personally interesting to them.  All students in grades K-8 participate in this event.  Issues related to the environment and scientific social responsibility are explored throughout the grades.  Health and nutrition are a part of our science program.

Social Science

{mosimage}Social Studies is the study of the interactions of human beings with each other as well as with their environment.  Interaction between self and others is the most important topic of study and the classroom presents infinite opportunity for exploring many issues.  During the earliest years, students focus on self, family, and community, moving outward as they progress through elementary school.  A multicultural perspective is explored at every level.  In this sense, students learn not only about the world within which they move, but also about the world within which they live.

While each required content area is addressed during grades K-8, they are not necessarily addressed in the same order as other local schools. We have a three year cycle for social studies in middle school, with students covering a year of ancient history, medieval history, and American history.  Drama productions and a culminating P.E. event usually adopt the Social Studies theme for the year.

Learning to be participants in our cooperative school community is a critical part of our social studies curriculum.  Serious attention is paid to the development of interpersonal communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills.  Classrooms operate as caring communities.  Students have an opportunity to explore values and ultimately express some of these values through community service.  All students have the chance to participate in service learning projects.

Technology

{mosimage}Every teacher at SBCS uses visual and multimedia technology to enhance instruction for a diverse group of learners.  Computer literacy is mandatory for success in the twenty-first century so we incorporate the use of computers throughout the school.  Students have the opportunity to use computers for word processing, Internet research, movie production, slide shows, graphic design and Power Point  presentations.  During the middle school years, students receive direct instruction in many areas of technological literacy.

Physical Education

We recognize the mind-body connection, so our physical education program addresses students’ physical, emotional, and intellectual health.  It’s also an important vehicle for learning movement, cooperation, teamwork, and human physiology.  Through the school-wide Physical Education program, students build a sense of community, confidence, and self-esteem.  They also learn athletic and sports skills that will last a lifetime.  Many of our Middle School graduates go on to excel in high school sports programs.

HomeBased Education

Homebased education is founded on the recognition that children are learning all the time.  It is a natural extension of the school’s child centered philosophy. that recognizes parents as partners in the educational process.  The HomeBased Partnership is a program in which homeschool children attend school at least one day per week.  The children work independently or with each other when at school.  Many take advantage of rich offerings by specialists.  Daily activities are documented by parents and regularly presented to the liaison teacher who provides feedback and suggestions.  The teacher meets with families, assists with curriculum, and discusses other details of the children’s education.

Our classroom-based independent study program allows families to provide their children with a homeschooling experience on a smaller scale.  Families may contract to attend school on a less than full-time basis.  Time spent away from school may include home study with parents, special lessons, or traveling.  All classroom based independent study must be approved by the classroom teacher.

Both the HomeBased and Classroom-based independent programs go a long way in truly individualizing a child’s education.

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