Lower School - Mary McDowell Friends School

LOWER SCHOOL ACADEMICS

A Team Approach

Students discover their strengths with the support of highly trained and dedicated professionals including two homeroom teachers, language therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers. Grouped according to their abilities and learning needs, students move from their classrooms to small-group instruction for reading and math.

Reading

Reading groups meet daily. Teachers are trained in the Orton-Gillingham PAF program—a multisensory program that teaches decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling).

Students are grouped according to instructional level and learning needs, with students close in age.
Groups are small with a very high teacher-to-student ratio.
Informal and formal reading assessments occur regularly. These assessments allow teachers to measure student progress and identify areas of strength and struggle, which guide both instruction and future group placement.

Writing

Students learn to express themselves using Judith Hochman’s Teaching Basic Writing Skills, an expository writing program.

Writing is taught several times a week, with time for instruction and time for practicing skills.
Students explore descriptive and persuasive writing, and learn to compare and contrast works.
Long term assignments include book reports and research papers.

Math

In daily math classes, students develop computational skills and become problem solvers using programs like Math in Focus with Singapore Math and Stern Structural Arithmetic.

Math groups are small with a high teacher-to-student ratio.
Students are grouped according to instructional level and learning needs, with students close in age.
We teach multiple problem solving strategies, so students find the most effective approach.
Teachers use a variety of hands-on materials, manipulatives, and online resources to meet the learning needs of every student.
We teach the concept before the procedure to promote understanding.

Science

Our science program focuses on the study of the natural world through an exploration of physical, earth, and life sciences. ‘Question Everything!’ is our guiding principle for young scientists.

All classes visit the science room once or twice a week, and conduct engaging, hands-on experiments.
Sci-Time labs allows our oldest students to develop and test hypotheses based on their own observations of natural phenomena.
The curriculum includes rocks and minerals, space, simple machines, water and its conservation, and force and motion.
Younger students take part in Science Choice as a building block for Sci-Time.
Our science room houses oyster tanks as part of the Billion Oyster Project, which helps restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor.

Social Studies

We encourage even our youngest students to ask questions, gather data, and be thoughtful in their analysis and interpretation of information.

Our youngest students learn about each other, their families, and our Brooklyn neighborhood.
Older students delve into topics such as the Development of New Amsterdam, West Africa, Activism in NYC, Indigenous Peoples, Families, Parks, and Immigration.
Our approach prioritizes in-depth study and analysis over a broad sweep of dates and places.
Research skills are taught to older students.

Healthy Choices

Healthy Choices is an academic class for the oldest lower school students, and includes topics like Human Sexuality, Media Literacy and Online Safety, Typing, or Community Buddies.

The challenges that all students face — physical changes, social challenges, growing independence, and peer pressure — are heightened for students with learning disabilities. Healthy Choices teaches students the skills necessary to make thoughtful choices.

Language Therapy &
Occupational Therapy

Language Therapy (LT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) are a regular part of the school day and are designed to support learning in every classroom and every subject.

LTs and OTs work with students both in the classroom (“push in”) and in a separate setting (“pull out”).
Handwriting is taught using the multisensory Orton-Gillingham Preventing Academic Failure (PAF) program and Size Matters Handwriting Program.
All but the youngest students are introduced to keyboarding. Cursive is introduced when students are ready.
Our fully equipped sensory gym provides gross motor sensory support.
Our OTs may recommend adaptive equipment such as pencil grips, ball chairs, standing desks, and movement breaks.

LOWER SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

How MMFS is different.

Small classes, a multisensory approach to learning, and differentiated instruction empower students with learning disabilities to become confident, successful learners.

The Foundation for Lifelong Learning

As students advance through the lower school, they acquire a growing sense of themselves as learners and self-advocates. They develop skills to manage their time, organize their school supplies, and complete long-term or multi-step assignments.

More than Academics

Students sing in chorus and learn music fundamentals and performance with our Rock Band curriculum. Art classes weave creativity with culture, culminating in an annual Art Show. PE classes emphasize fun and exercise. Our beautiful library provides an oasis for group literacy. And every class includes executive functioning strategies.

Technology at MMFS

Every student is assigned a Chromebook.
Every classroom has an interactive digital screen and teacher voice amplification system.
Every student has access to a Learning Management Platform that includes assistive and supportive software platforms.
Focus is on assisting students in the learning process.
Fine/gross motor sensory therapists are on hand to teach typing and computing skills, and students have access to specialized assistive technology tools.

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