Lower School (K-5th Grade)
Rivermont’s Lower School provides an academically rigorous yet nurturing environment. You can feel the energy in our halls and classrooms, filled with projects, writing, and artwork that reflect an enthusiasm for learning. A walk through Lower School classrooms will show students involved in everything from programming robots to constructing Native American dwellings to singing in French and Spanish. Teachers have the flexibility to focus on each student’s learning style and students feel comfortable taking risks in academics, arts, and athletics.
Language Arts Beginning in Kindergarten, The Daily 5 curriculum actively engages students in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students read to self, read to someone, work on writing, listen to reading, and do word work. The Daily 5 helps students develop daily habits that create independent, confident readers, writers, listeners, and speakers. This curriculum continues through Lower School with increasingly complex literature and writing projects. Lower School students also utilize Lexia Reading Core5, a technology-based curriculum that provides personalized learning on foundational reading skills for students of all abilities. Lexia delivers performance data and analysis without interrupting the flow of instruction to administer a test. This performance data helps teachers effectively differentiate reading instruction for each student's ability. Worldly Wise, a Latin and Greek-based vocabulary development program, is introduced in 2nd Grade to teach students to use context clues and word part analysis to improve spelling and recognize word meaning. Beginning in 4th Grade, discussion, activities, and projects revolve around the Open Court Reading series, a variety of recommended, awardwinning novels, and selected genre studies. The 5th Grade literacy program ties into the social sciences with historical novels and encourages students to think critically about literature by emphasizing analysis of content, author’s voice, and writing style.
Mathematics The incredibly interactive Singapore Math curriculum anchors learning in real world, hands-on experiences. By applying essential math concepts to real world situations, students develop a deep understanding and become expert problem solvers without significant repetition. Students learn to apply multiple problem solving strategies to a single problem in individual, small group, and whole class activities. Singapore Math continues through Lower School, applied to increasingly complex concepts. Students move from weighing, measuring, estimating, and graphing in 1st Grade to fractions, geometry, and algebra principals in 4th and 5th Grade.
Science Beginning in Kindergarten, students meet with a discipline-specific science teacher in a lab setting. Students master the scientific method through hands-on interactive labs that bring concepts to life and keep students engaged. Kindergarten students begin by exploring life, earth, and physical sciences and how they pertain to daily life. Each grade level builds upon the preceding level by introducing more challenging experiments, concepts, and skills. From the Earth, sky, and elements of motion in Kindergarten to genetics in 5th Grade, students explore the entire spectrum of science disciplines.
Social Studies Kindergarten students begin by becoming aware of the communities around them (local, national, and global), developing an appreciation for government, and exploring maps and the globe. Beginning in 1st Grade, all students participate in the annual Academic Fair, an integral part of the curriculum and the culmination of months of research. Depending on grade level, students select either a national monument, American president, Native American tribe, state, or country for which they complete a written, visual, and oral presentation of their research. Throughout Lower School, students also explore the vast myriad of cultures, beliefs, and traditions of our evershrinking world. Studies and projects complement and help students prepare for Rivermont’s annual school-wide International Week. Skype capability in each classroom eliminates the boundaries of campus - students collaborate with other classes (no matter where they are!), bring guest speakers from around the world into their classroom, and take virtual field trips around the globe.
Foreign Language Students are exposed to foreign language beginning in PreSchool and begin formal foreign language study with a discipline-specific teacher in Kindergarten. Kindergarten and 1st Grade students study Spanish, 2nd and 3rd Grade study French, and 4th and 5th Grade choose between the two. Kindergarten students begin by using symbols and pictures to form complete sentences in Spanish. As students progress through Lower School, they develop vocabulary in both French and Spanish for greetings, numbers, colors, food, clothing, and more. In 4th Grade students select which language, French or Spanish, they want to continue throughout the remainder of Lower School and dive deeper into their study with increasingly challenging vocabulary and composition. Songs, games, and hands-on activities create a language-rich environment and appreciation for customs and holidays from around the world.
Visual Art Beginning in Kindergarten, students meet with a discipline-specific teacher for visual art and enjoy a vast array of media available in the art studio. Creative expression is interwoven with skill development. Students are encouraged to think like artists – considering line, color, and balance – and to use a variety of media and variety of processes in their art. They also learn to verbally articulate why and how they solved problems in their work. Themes are incorporated into art projects to correlate with classroom curriculum. Each Lower School grade features unique anchor artists from around the world, whose work and techniques students study and incorporate into their own pieces.
Music Beginning in Kindergarten, students meet with a discipline-specific teacher for music. Students begin by discovering the channels of the voice and an awareness of pitch. They learn to identify a rhythmic beat and are introduced to the concepts of tempo, dynamics, style, and mood. In 3rd Grade, students are introduced to the soprano recorder as preband training and private lessons in violin, viola, and cello are available. 4th and 5th Grade students may rent an instrument and participate in the beginning band program. 4th Grade students also begin to develop skills for two-part harmony in vocal music and as they progress to 5th Grade, are given a leadership role in music programs through solos, narration, acting, and choreography. Lower School students showcase what they’ve learned at Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day, the Winter Concert, SpringFest, the Lower School Music Program, and more.
Computer Science Computer science is an essential part of Rivermont’s curriculum as technology is increasingly introduced into classrooms and lessons. Lower School is outfitted with iPad carts that can be transitioned from classroom to classroom bringing the creative tools, interactive books, and endless educational apps of the iPad anywhere at any time. Lower School students also utilize their own computer lab outfitted with PC desktops for a wide variety of lessons and projects. Students learn digital citizenship and internet safety skills, proper keyboarding technique, and how to use Microsoft Office tools. As they move into 4th and 5th Grade, students explore the basics of computer programming and begin to work with digital cameras and webcams using photo and video editing software.
Library Lower School students visit the Library and Media Center regularly, where lessons correlate with classroom curriculum and research projects. Kindergarten students learn to recognize basic story structure and define types of literature, both fiction and nonfiction. As they progress through Lower School, students work with increasingly complex text and learn to evaluate and use library materials for classroom assignments. By 4th and 5th Grade, students are information literate, able to use nonfiction and technology as sources of information, cite information sources, and assess the reliability of online information. In addition to developing life-long readers, the library program works in tandem with computer science to ensure students become skilled, responsible researchers.
Health & Fitness Beginning in Kindergarten, students meet with a discipline-specific teacher for physical education, which focuses on developing physical fitness, useful physical and athletic skills, good sportsmanship, and an enjoyment of physical recreation. Activities are often integrated to make connections across disciplines and with school activities, such as African dancing and martial arts during Rivermont’s annual school-wide International Week. Beginning in 4th Grade, health and life skills are emphasized and students are encouraged to think critically about healthy living. In 5th Grade students are given the opportunity to participate in school-sponsored athletics including basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, cross country, and track.
Clubs & Activities From running for Student Council to learning stunts with the Varsity Cheerleaders, Rivermont offers a variety clubs, activities, athletics, and trips for Lower School students to explore new interests and strengthen skills. Lower School Coding Club, band and strings participation, the Rivermont Academic Invitational, and the annual trip to Concordia Language Villages are examples of opportunities for intellectual, social, and emotional growth.
There’s always more to learn.
RIVERMONT COLLEGIATE The Quad Cities’ only Private College Prep School for PreSchool through 12th Grade 1821 Sunset Drive - Bettendorf, IA 52722 (563) 359-1366 WWW.RIVERMONTCOLLEGIATE.ORG