Our Program

CURRICULUM

Our unique academic program allows our students to work at their own level and pace and provides a balance between independent study, one-on-one instruction, group classes, community building, and the freedom for students to explore their own interests. Four Winds teachers work with students to help build an individual course of study that suits their specific needs, as well as encouraging social justice, empathy, and social skills, and provide a flexible and open environment for students to learn and grow.

THE BIWEEKLY SYSTEM

This individualized program is organized and implemented through the use of the biweekly system: Every two weeks, each student sets academic goals. During the two-week period, called a biweekly, teachers help students to meet their goals by helping “as little as possible and as much as necessary”.  At the end of the biweekly, students assess their progress and set adjusted goals for the next biweekly.

ACADEMIC WORK TIME

During Academic Work Time every morning, students work through their biweekly goals in whatever order they so choose. However they go about it, students are responsible for completing their work by the end of every biweekly. Students learn the invaluable skills of time management and task allocation, all while building confidence and developing ownership over their work.

MATH

Students practice math as a larger discipline rather than a series of discrete skills. From the evaluation, each student is placed in a math program suited to their level of achievement. Math lessons incorporate drills with math facts and problem solving, as well as a continual review of previously learned concepts.

AFTERNOON CLASSES

After lunch on Mondays through Thursdays we have group Humanities or Science classes. In group classes, we typically start with a discussion and then do an activity or group work. Our Science and Humanities curricula run on the following three-year cycle:

Formal Essay Writing

During Humanities class, students also continue their study of English Language Arts through essay writing. At Four Winds School, students learn how to write reading responses, research papers, and opinion pieces. After learning these skills in humanities class, students then go on to write a research paper in science class, as well.

FIRST FRIDAYS

On the first Friday of the biweekly we focus on Social Emotional Learning. After Creative Writing time, students head to Mathtivity. Unlike a traditional math class, students explore math through hands-on activities.

The rest of the day is filled with hands-on workshops, activities, or field trips, such as:

• Skills Workshop, in which students explore topics relating to our school and wider communities. Students develop skills for social interactions, emotional regulation, social justice, and/or study habits. They are also able to select topics for Skills Workshop discussions.
• Book club, in which students explore and discuss the books they’ve chosen to read from the library.
• “Fun Friday Activity,” which can include visitors sharing their expertise or activities with the class, visiting one of the many local museums or parks, going to nearby Barton’s Cove for a fun outing, or doing something together as a community, such as pumpkin carving!