Curriculum Overview

All Tobin School curriculum is approved by the Town of Natick School Committee.

Language Arts

A balanced approach to reading is most effective in acquiring all the necessary skills to develop a lifelong love of reading. “Open Court” is our formal reading and phonics program. Through the use of fine literature, students are systematically and explicitly taught phonemic awareness, phonics, word knowledge, comprehension skills and strategies, inquiry skills, and the art of the writing process. Students are introduced to a wide variety of genres, where they deepen their understanding of various themes.

In the upper grades, children use novels, poetry, and plays from a variety of genres to deepen their appreciation and learn about interpretation, comprehension, predictions and analytical skills.  There is a sound emphasis on developing strong writers by teaching the important themes and components of the writing process. Students are required to write, edit, and publish book reports, stories, persuasive paragraphs, plays, and poetry.

To build strong public speakers, all students learn presentation skills, beginning in the primary grades and are given ample opportunity to practice in front of peers, the whole class or the Tobin community.

In line with the rest of our curriculum, children learn spelling rules and vocabulary in a systematic and well organized manner. Rules are taught in the classroom, weekly tests and assignments are utilized to assess the understanding and multiple opportunities are put forth to allow for ample practice.
 

Math

Math is approached with a wide variety of opportunities and learning tools to create a comprehensive experience for the student. Our core Math program is “Math Exploration and Application” by SRA. This well balanced and engaging program teaches the essential skills and concepts, problem solving strategies and encourages analytical thinking while fostering a positive attitude.  Throughout the math curriculum, students learn patterns, measurement, geometry, beginning algebra, money, probability, process and outcome.  In addition to “MEA”, students are challenged with “problems of the day” focusing on a recently taught strategy or concept. We firmly believe that all students need to build a sound and solid grasp of math facts, beginning in the early years, to develop into strong and lifelong mathematicians. In all grades, students are taught “real life” math to connect to their day-to-day lives.
 

Handwriting

“Handwriting without Tears”, our print and cursive curriculum for grades K-3, allows students ample opportunity to learn sound writing habits. “HWT” is a developmentally based and multisensory approach to writing. With various kinesthetic and spatial components to the program, the students will incorporate fine and gross motor skills and both the big and small muscle groups to internalize the correct formation of letters. Fine and correct handwriting is encouraged throughout the whole curriculum.
 

Spanish

The Tobin School provides students with a culturally rich and linguistically challenging Spanish Curriculum. Each Spanish class allows students to retain and recall new and past vocabulary in a variety of manners. The students constantly sing, speak, converse, and play games in Spanish. The daily question chain encourages students to utilize practical conversational Spanish ultimately increasing their comfort level and ability to maintain functional and mainstream conversations. Throughout the year, as the foundation builds, students are ready to write and read in Spanish. Literary works, textbooks, music, and art from United States, Spain, Mexico and South America are implemented to create a well rounded and comprehensive program.
 

Social Studies

Students learn about history, cultures, geography and current events in accordance with the Massachusetts Frameworks. This study offers students a vision and perspective into history and other cultures through reading and writing, discussion, drama, video, field trip and the utilization of the community and its resources. Students read “Time for Kids” each week in class to learn about current events and are part of a round table discussion to explore important themes.
 

Science

Students learn about natural science in accordance with the Massachusetts Frameworks. Students learn about a variety of themes including weather, solar system, animals and habitats, plants, earth, and natural science. These themes are taught through discovery, experiments, reading, discussion, writing, and projects. Students also have daily access to a variety of animals including birds, snakes, lizards and mice in our Science Center.
 

Physical Education

Physical activity and healthy habits are vital in the lives of all children. Our physical education program in the primary years focuses on in-school team sports, development of coordination, activities to develop fine and gross motor control, yoga, tumbling, and following rules and directions. In the upper grades, sportsmanship, organized rule-based games, yoga and team sports are main focuses. Alongside physical activity, we explicitly teach children to develop sound nutritional habits which are supported by the faculty throughout the school and in the snack program.
 

Music

The music program teaches music theory and appreciation, rhythm, tempo, voice training, movement, a study of instruments, and choral practice.  Students also practice and rehearse for class performances.
 

Art

Surrounded by art in the school, students learn about the different styles and talents of various artists. In the art studio, students focus on free design, painting, sketching, cutting, clay, creations from paper maché, collage and the use of color as a form of expression. All students learn to create both 2D and 3D designs using a variety of materials.

Copyright © 2006 The Tobin School, inc. All rights reserved.
Website designed & maintained by R M Stelting 
Revised: Thursday, 06 July 2006