The Younger Spiral places immense value on connections and community. We eat our meals together and use this opportunity to bond as a class. We regularly use circles to start and end class. Different identity projects are woven in throughout the year in order for learners to touch base with themselves and with their peers around them. 

We also hold nature and the environment close to our hearts; with ample opportunity to play and connect outside and with curriculum focused on bringing in nature whenever applicable. Each year we visit the small waterfall by our school, named “Crystal Falls”, to pay our respects to the ground we learn on. 

Academically we shift from year to year in order to best serve the current group of children. Math, Reading, and Writing lessons are crafted to meet the individualized needs of the student. In Math, we use a combination of hands-on lessons, games, and real-world applications to approach developmentally appropriate topics. In Reading and Writing, we use a wide variety of media to foster a joy for literature. We read stories together, practice phonics, use project-based learning, and more to help guide us. Ruby, the Younger Spiral teacher says, “My favorite part about teaching academics is the relationship I create with each family to ensure their child is developing at a pace best for them. SAU truly is a place for caretakers and educators to collaborate and thrive. “

Academics

Play is a value that we honor in the Younger Spiral. Between imaginative play, cooperative games, and even structured dramatic play incorporated into lessons, we love to play! Letting children play independently during this time of development only strengthens their abilities to manage their emotions. Developmentally during this time period for young ones we find they are able to use their words to express how they are feeling. They are starting to understand more complex emotions both in themselves and their friends and family. They are learning that they are a unique individual in this world!

We strive to guide children toward becoming more mindful and kind- while instilling a sense of self-advocacy and self-worth within them.

Social Emotional Learning