Our Curriculum

At Rothewood Academy, our enriched curriculum was created by examining international best practices and is refined with the latest research in behavioural and developmental sciences and psychology. The Rothewood curriculum is carefully designed with the understanding that each child is unique and learning is geared to provide your child with world class individualized early learning and the opportunity to play with other children of the same age and intellectual level. As a result, we provide our students with engaging learning experiences aimed at building and enhancing their skills in all developmental areas. Our goal is to create a total learning environment where all the children at the Rothewood Academy experience success.

  • Reading

  • Writing

  • Math Language

  • Second Language

Books at Rothewood Academy

Scholars

As a part of our emergent literacy program your child will begin to understand that writing is a form of communication and their marks on paper convey a message.  Reading and writing develop simultaneously and are interrelated.

Reading

At Rothewood Academy we really want children to enjoy books!!  We want children to be confident and comfortable in handling a book, to learn to turn the pages with care and to see the progression of a story and to be enticed to discover the beauty and excitement that books offer.  Each of our classrooms has a cozy reading area outfitted with comfy child sized chairs and floor cushions.  Children are naturally drawn to this area, curious to investigate the colourful pages contained within the storybook covers.  Several times each day, the teachers use picture books for oral storytelling; it’s a wonderful way to introduce new vocabulary and to teach children that you don’t need to understand the printed words to enjoy a good “read”.    Teachers also use finger plays, nursery rhymes and chants to help toddlers and preschoolers to develop social interactions skills, listening and auditory memory skills, expressive language skills and concept formation.

We also have a weekly At Home Reading Program, where specially chosen books are sent home to enjoy with our family members, as well as a Mystery Reader program where family members are encouraged to visit the classroom to read to the children!  When you participate in the At Home Reading Program with your child you are helping to set your child up for success!  It is designed to be a fun, interactive and rewarding experience as reading together is a truly wonderful bonding experience for both parent and child. A great deal of a child’s education will depend on reading – so a good, solid foundation in reading skills is essential!

  • Science

  • Technology

  • Engineering

  • Math

  • Outdoor Nature Program

Innovation

Young children are naturally curious. They wonder what things are called, how they work, and why things happen. The foundations of our Innovation pillar lie in inquiry and exploration – – these are the tools of active learning. Fostering you child’s sense of curiosity about the natural world around them can promote a lifelong interest in it.

Mathematics
The Rothewood Mathematics Program teaches your child a variety of math concepts such as how to quantify numbers, using them for addition, subtraction, division, and, in the higher classes, multiplication. Other tools used to teach math to the children are time, age, addresses, phone numbers, cooking and measurement. Through fun activities and exploration our students will grasp an important skill that they will take with them into their Elementary years.

STEM
STEM is a way of thinking about how educators at all levels—including parents—should be helping students integrate knowledge across disciplines, encouraging them to think in a more connected and holistic way. At Rothewood we also blend math and science to make learning interdisciplinary using a STEM approach. The learning becomes more relevant when our students go outside to explore nature. By asking the right questions, our Teachers can help stimulate investigations where students are identifying objects, making comparisons, making predictions, testing ideas, and sharing discoveries, all while observing their natural environment. Students can also explore sizes, shapes, patterns, and quantities in the process. In this way, children can learn concepts from different disciplines in different contexts, all in ways that are naturally engaging to them.

Outdoor Nature Program
Research has shown that a child’s sense of creativity, confidence, independence and tolerance thrives naturally in an outdoor setting. Free, non-associated play differs from what children do indoors. This type of free play has been found to develop children’s motor skills and allows them to make decisions and solve problems, thanks to the more variable and less-structured outdoor environment.

We provide our students with an opportunity to connect to the natural environment in a safe and enjoyable way. We view children as imaginative, resourceful, and inquisitive beings who are most comfortable in a natural setting. Students are encouraged to engage in activities that interest them, while our educators act as facilitators in the natural learning process.

Loose Parts
Loose Parts are a collection of everyday items that are made available for children to engage in rich, meaningful and creative open-ended interactions.  We have found that by incorporating such diverse materials, the children use their imaginations to challenge themselves and each other, to learn to ask questions and to problem solve.  Children learn to collaborate, negotiate, analyze and test out their theories and to ponder the magical question, “what if…?”  These materials are multipurposed and can be moved, combined, and used in a multitude of different ways, ensuring that the child’s creativity and imagination are supported and encouraged!

  • World Music

  • Visual Arts

  • Creative Play/Drama

  • Yoga

  • Dance

  • Healthy Chefs

Early Learning | Painting at Rothewood Academy

Inspiration

Creative expression is encouraged and developed at Rothewood Academy. We believe that it is important to foster a positive approach to the arts, and what better place to do that than right here at school. Children should be taught to enjoy the creative process just as much, if not more, than the results that they achieve. In doing so, their senses are sharpened and they respond to this heightened awareness with an abundance of ideas.

Creative Play & Drama
Involvement in dramatic activities is a way of bringing out what is inside. Drama encompasses many forms of creative expressions and deals with the process of acting out, or the playing of a role, in an imaginary situation. Drama is integrated into a variety of subject areas to enhance student learning, enhance presentation skills and spark creativity and self-expression.

Visual Arts
Students at Rothewood are given the opportunity to explore and create with a variety of artistic mediums. Students develop their creativity, spatial awareness and fine motor skills through drawing, painting, collage, sculpting and mixed media. Our visual arts activities often correspond to curriculum areas to help students broaden their understanding of the material and appeal to visual and hands-on learners.

Healthy Chef’s
A fun and exciting way to introduce your child to creating their own snack or meal. Our Chef will visit each of our classrooms children will get to experience the fun of creating meals which can help build their self-confidence and lay the foundation for healthy eating habits. Your child will learn the joys of baking and creating something they get to enjoy with their friends.

World Music Program
The Rothewood World Music Program introduces your child to various sounds through an exploration of instruments from around the world. Our teachers sing songs, initiate finger plays and teach various movements to the children. They also incorporate props such as small instruments, drums, scarves and other unique items into their musical presentations.

  • World Cultures

  • Contribution

  • Citizenship

  • Leadership

Kids Smiling at Rothewood Academy

Helping Hands

At Rothewood our students learn about different cultures the community and world around them. Our students learn empathy through thinking of ways they can help others. Our student will learn leadership and team building skills. Students are encouraged to voice what they feel is important to them. At Rothewood we are strong believers in Helping Hands.

Rothewood Academy

“Our son has been with Rothewood since the age of 1 and continues to enjoy his experience today in JK3.  Rothewood’s early learning educators and entire staff take a keen interest in our child’s development and demonstrate great care and attention to him as an individual.  We’re delighted to have made the choice to include our son in the Rothewood community.”

– Nicholas C.