Our Philosophy & Curriculum

Hummingbirds’ Collaborative School combines foundational aspects of whole child development within a curriculum that meets the needs of today’s children. We incorporate a multi-sensory approach to every aspect of the curriculum. Within the curriculum, the teacher navigates the subject to support three styles of learning – visual, auditory, and kinesthetics. These techniques engage and develop the whole brain, and help develop the daily, weekly, and yearly rhythm of life as a student.

The Culture of Hummingbirds’ Collaborative

All human beings require a sense of belonging, trust, safety and joy foster learning and bring forth our best human self. Our school encourages a sense of belonging through festivals, seasonal celebrations and community building. We collaborate in parent evenings, shared interests and meeting the needs of today’s child for tomorrow’s world.

The Curriculum

Each grade will experience their subjects in different locations, from the classroom setting (with socially-responsible distancing) to field trips, guest speakers and remote learning via appropriate technology.

Subject Lessons

Subject lessons are brought from a community of teachers in their field of specialty. The specialty teachers and class teacher collaborate together to discuss the curriculum and the constellation of students to support the class dynamic. As each child brings their unique individuality into the classTje – subject lessons provide an opportunity to work with the energy of what is “living” within the class as a whole.

Learn-Up Phonics Program

The Learn-Up program is a comprehensive curriculum that combines components of phonics, phonological processing, and whole language. Whether they are at the beginning stages of identifying letter sounds or beginning to read words and sentences, the program meets children at their individual levels to support their unique development of reading fluency, comprehension, and written expression. Students participate in a fun, multi­-sensory routine that utilizes appealing materials, including magnetic boards and high ­interest chapter books!

Speech

Speech and language support is now being offered at Hummingbirds’ School. A local speech-language pathologist is providing therapy to address communication difficulties in the following areas: articulation (speech sounds), receptive/expressive language, fluency (stuttering), and social language skills. Services are being administered in small groups, based on goals and age level. In addition, the SLP is providing teacher support to address the areas of need.

Class Plays

Every grade performs a class play. The teacher selects or creates a play based on the theme of the curriculum and the development of the child. The teacher carefully crafts the characters of the play and encourages participation from each child based on their temperament and leadership.

Yoga

Yoga is taught for all ages levels daily.

other Specialty Classes

In specialty classes students learn and participate in knitting, woodworking, singing, hiking, field trips, movement, and crafts. Through these activities children learn through socializing, express themselves, become inspired creatively, practice mindfulness, and get physical exercise. Spanish is also a specialty class. Students learn age appropriate Spanish vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing.