Strong Readers and Writers
Students build phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills through explicit instruction, discussion, rich texts, and regular practice.
Academic Approach
Our Academic Approach
Strong Foundations. Curious Minds. Learning That Lasts.
At Strive Charter School, rigorous academics and joyful, active learning go hand in hand.
Students build strong foundations in reading, writing, mathematics, and science while learning to ask thoughtful questions, explain their ideas, solve problems, and take increasing responsibility for their learning.
Rigorous Academics
Reading, Writing, and Mathematics
At Strive, rigor means more than completing difficult work. It means thinking deeply, developing strong academic skills, and applying learning in meaningful ways.
Reading and English Language Arts
Strive uses Success for All for literacy instruction. Students develop essential skills in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing while building confidence as readers and communicators.
Students read independently and with others, discuss meaningful texts, write for different purposes, and learn to support their ideas with evidence.
Mathematics
Strive uses Contexts for Learning Mathematics, an inquiry-based elementary mathematics curriculum.
Through math workshops, meaningful problems, visual models, manipulatives, games, and discussion, students develop computational fluency and a deep understanding of mathematical ideas. They compare strategies, explain their reasoning, learn from mistakes, and apply mathematics to real-world situations.
Teachers use regular assessment, classroom observations, and student work to provide targeted support or additional challenge based on each child’s needs.
- Strong foundations in reading and writing
- Inquiry-based mathematical thinking and problem-solving
- Targeted support and appropriate challenge for every learner
Academic Foundations
Essential Skills That Support Deeper Learning
Students receive clear instruction, purposeful practice, meaningful feedback, and regular opportunities to apply what they learn.
Understanding and Fluency
Students develop computational fluency, conceptual understanding, mathematical reasoning, and the confidence to use mathematics to solve meaningful problems.
Challenge and Support
Teachers use assessment, observation, small groups, and student work to provide additional support when needed and greater challenge when students are ready.
Hands-On Science
Learning Science by Doing Science
Our original science curriculum emphasizes inquiry, hands-on investigation, scientific thinking, and experiential learning.
Students observe, ask questions, use scientific tools, conduct investigations, collect evidence, build models, test ideas, and communicate their findings.
Classroom learning connects to the natural world, the school community, gardens, living things, engineering challenges, fieldwork, and meaningful real-life experiences.
Observe Closely Notice details, changes, similarities, and patterns.
Ask Questions Develop curiosity about how the world works.
Investigate Use tools, models, tests, and evidence.
Explain Findings Communicate conclusions using evidence and reasoning.
A Progressive Approach
Strong Instruction and Active Learning
Progressive education is sometimes misunderstood as being unstructured or less academically demanding. At Strive, it means combining strong academic foundations and high expectations with learning experiences that are active, engaging, and connected to the world beyond the classroom.
Teachers remain active leaders in the learning process. They set clear goals, teach essential knowledge and skills, monitor progress, and provide feedback while students discuss ideas, collaborate, investigate, create, revise, and reflect.
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Learning Together
Collaborative Learning
Students work with partners and small groups to discuss texts, compare strategies, conduct investigations, build models, solve problems, and give one another feedback.
Teachers carefully structure these experiences so every student has a meaningful role, participates fully, and remains responsible for their own learning.
Curiosity and Choice
Independent Exploration
Students have opportunities to select books, investigate questions, create, build, write, practice skills, and take increasing responsibility for their learning.
Independent exploration does not mean students are left to learn on their own. Teachers provide clear expectations, strong materials, purposeful questions, and appropriate support.
Learning by Doing
Projects and Real-World Learning
Projects and hands-on experiences give students meaningful reasons to use reading, writing, mathematics, science, creativity, and problem-solving.
Projects, collaboration, and exploration do not replace foundational academic skills. They give students meaningful opportunities to apply those skills, explain their ideas, revise their work, and connect classroom learning to the real world.
The Learners We Develop
Knowledgeable. Thoughtful. Creative. Confident.
Our goal is not only to prepare students for the next grade. We help them build strong academic foundations while developing communication, curiosity, independence, collaboration, creativity, and perseverance.
Students learn that mistakes are part of growth, challenging work becomes manageable with strong strategies, and their ideas are worth developing and sharing.
01
Confident Communicators
Students read with understanding and express ideas clearly through speaking, writing, discussion, and presentation.
02
Curious Thinkers
Students ask thoughtful questions, reason mathematically, investigate ideas using evidence, and notice patterns.
03
Collaborative Problem-Solvers
Students listen respectfully, share ideas, contribute to group work, and solve meaningful problems with others.
04
Independent Learners
Students make productive choices, persevere through challenges, manage their work, and take increasing ownership of their progress.
Come See Learning at Strive
Strong Academics and a Joyful Childhood
Families should not have to choose between strong academics and a joyful, engaging school experience. At Strive, students receive the instruction, support, challenge, and opportunities they need to grow.