Concord
Academy’s Curriculum
Concord Academy’s mission statement guides its instructional
plan. The original mission statement written in 1994 is still true today:
"Concord Academy will provide an inspiring and challenging educational environment conducive to critical and creative thinking by integrating a strong fine arts program into the traditional academic curriculum."
In addition, Concord has five school-wide goals
Concord Academy’s instructional plan features these components:
1. Integrated arts education: At Concord Academy the academic curriculum and arts curriculum are uniquely intertwined; each discipline strengthens the other. Concord blends a traditional core curriculum of language arts, social studies, mathematics and science with arts programming that includes visual art, vocal music, instrumental music, dance and drama. Arts programming benefits every student academically and personally.
2. Thematic instruction: School-wide coursework is unified around a revolving theme. For example, if the school-wide theme is U.S. history, and students are studying the Civil War in social studies, they would also read literature about the Civil War in language arts. In addition, they could study the dances of the civil war era as well as the music and art.
3. Continuous progress learning: Students progress in their classrooms based upon their own ability. In a math class, students work in smaller groups that reflect their own skills and progress at the rate appropriate for them. This allows students to progress rapidly in some subjects and perhaps more slowly in others when necessary.
4. Multi-age classrooms: Students work in classrooms that have a blend of grades. Concord has had multi-age classrooms since its inception. In addition, Concord functions as a K-12 community giving students a variety of peer groups as well as learning partners.
Kindergarten
and elementary program
Students in the
kindergarten and elementary program begin with a curriculum that emphasizes
a strong foundation in reading and mathematics as well as social studies and
science and visual art, Orff music and dance.
In kindergarten students work with reading fundamentals that includes phonics. This program carries through the early elementary grades. Students also begin a study of mathematics. This mathematics program is consistent through elementary, middle and high school. Students begin their arts study with a class that blends music and movement. Teachers also introduce students to social studies and science.
As students progress through the elementary program, the curriculum grows with them. In first and second grade the students continue to develop their language skills with a study of reading and writing and continuing their phonics study. Social studies and science are incorporated with more emphasis throughout their school week. Students now have separate class in Orff music, dance and visual art. In each of these arts classes students learn technique as well as prepare pieces for performances.
In third and fourth grades, students continue to progress in their studies adding more projects to their work in language arts, social studies, mathematics and science. Writing receives greater emphasis. Students gather the skills they need to become more independent learners. Students study Michigan history as part of their social studies program. Students in third, fourth and fifth grades take the Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests.
In fifth and sixth grade students hone their skills in reading, writing and mathematics and explore science and social studies with greater depth and frequency. Students add drama to their schedule where they use its versatility to explore academic topics. Students now participate in both vocal and instrumental music, choosing from orchestral and band instruments.
Middle
and high school programs
Middle school students
bridge the learning of fundamentals in the elementary program into the high
school program. The middle school curriculum is focused on developing independent
learners for high school by fostering creative thinking, problem solving,
inquiry based projects and development of basic skills.
Students hone their skills in the four academic areas of language arts, social studies, mathematics and science in addition to the arts courses in visual arts, instrumental and vocal music, dance and drama. Students are engaged in many performances to build confidence and poise. These performances also help foster academic integration as well as building the students into a community.
Students have the opportunity
to participate in a middle school dance company. Concord’s middle school
MathCounts team competes in local and regional competitions.
The high school program integrates a college prep curriculum with a fine arts
emphasis Students take four years of English, history, mathematics and science
as well as visual art, instrumental music, choir, dance and theatre. While
grades K-8 integrate the themes of U.S. history and world cultures, the high
school weaves its studies through ancient, world, European and United States
history.
Students may prepare for the Advanced Placement exams in their junior and senior years that give college credit based upon successful test scores. Concord offers AP course work in English literature, English language, biology, computer science, environmental science, physics, calculus, U.S. history, European history, world history, studio art, art history and music theory.
A critical aspect of the curriculum is the opportunity to perform. Since all students take a full arts schedule in addition to a rigorous academic schedule, their performance preparation happens during the school day. Students are involved in many performances throughout the year from choir and instrumental music concerts to dance performances to art shows and theatrical productions. Concord also features after school performing groups including Keramos, the high school dance company, Cantantes and Honestus, two vocal groups.
High school students take the MEAP exams as well as college entrance exams. Concord’s high school also has a National Honor Society.
Class
Web Pages
Link to
class web pages
