Primary School

Primary school students spend more than two hours each day focused on reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Beyond whole-group instruction, students read independently, visit the library, participate in small reading groups that meet throughout the week, and have personalized opportunities for practice. Through our literacy program, we seek to build confidence, independence, and a foundation for long-term academic success.

The Math in Focus Singapore math program teaches fewer concepts with greater depth and more complex problem solving than typical programs in the United States. Each new concept is introduced with physical manipulatives, such as linking cubes or teddy bear counters. After mastering the concrete, students move to pictorial representations, such as drawing pictures or symbols. Finally, students make the connection to abstract representations such as algorithms. Students use the online personalized learning tool IXL to support their learning.

Our goal is for our students to develop an understanding of the world around them and hone skills in inquiry, investigation, and analysis. At each grade level, students study earth science, physical science, and life science through the inquiry-based FOSS curriculum. Kindergartners explore "Animals," "Materials and Motion," and "Trees and Weather." First graders explore "Air and Weather," "Sound and Light," and "Plants and Animals." Second graders explore  "Pebbles, Sand, and Silt," "Solids and Liquids," and "Insects and Plants."

Our team leads weekly activities to develop habits that live up to our pillars and School Creed. We emphasize our individual responsibilities as students, and explore and celebrate the diversity of cultures in our classes and larger school community. This time is used to begin our understanding of civics and grapple with current events in our class and larger community at a developmentally appropriate level.  
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Students are welcome on our campus from 7:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. In the morning, primary students have breakfast in the cafe before starting class. At the end of each day, students have a quiet period to complete their homework. We encourage independence, but our teachers are available to answer questions, give additional practice work, guide students in choosing independent reading books, and help students organize their desks as needed. After the quiet period, students can choose from a variety of enrichment activities, such as chess, coding, and mancala. During this time, some students work with a mentor (an older student or adult volunteer) on a weekly basis for academic extension activities. 
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Harlem Academy takes a holistic approach to wellness, including physical education classes, daily recess, and healthy meals. We build lasting habits for wellness through meaningful practice across multiple grades and disciplines – just as we do with academic skills. These goals are supported through our advisory program, school counselors, and teaching team. 
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Each primary student has a laptop and an email account, and significant time is taken to teach basic operations, web navigation, typing and word processing, and digital safety and citizenship. Technology is incorporated into each subject, giving students many opportunities to practice with these tools in a safe environment. Students leave primary school able to create and share documents, investigate topics on the internet, and communicate via email.
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In partnership with Harlem School of the Arts, primary students take arts classes twice per week. The program allows primary students to study visual arts, dance, percussion, and improvisational theater. Celebrations of learning include a dance performance, arts showcase, and theater performance. As the oldest members of our primary division, second graders join in our elementary school art exploration former docent of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, first discussing works of art in the classroom and then seeing them in the Museum.  
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