Academics

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Elementary:

Students will build strong foundational literacy skills through a rich blend of high-quality texts, structured literacy routines, and engaging reading and writing tasks. Each unit is carefully designed to develop comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, and writing through research-based practices and a diverse selection of culturally responsive literature.

To deepen understanding and make learning joyful and meaningful, students will engage in arts integration throughout the curriculum. This includes connecting stories and themes to music, drama, visual art, and movement. For example, students might paint story settings, act out character journeys, or create storyboards to retell informational texts.

Beginning in 3rd grade, students will also participate in one novel study each semester. These extended texts enable students to delve more deeply into character development, theme, and plot while continuing to develop their reading stamina, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

Middle School: 

At RioGAFA, our Middle School ELA curriculum is rooted in high-quality literature, student voice, and creative expression. Students engage with a diverse range of texts, themes, and genres that promote critical thinking and academic rigor.

Each semester includes at least one full-length novel, enabling students to delve deeply into character development, voice, and structure. These novel studies are enhanced through arts integration, as students express their understanding through visual storytelling, theater, movement, and digital media projects. Whether analyzing a speech or writing a personal narrative, students are encouraged to connect texts to their own lives and the world around them.

Elementary and Middle School: 

At RioGAFA, we believe that math is more than numbers; it's a language for problem-solving, creativity, and discovery. Our students engage in a rigorous, student-centered program that emphasizes conceptual understanding, visual models, and real-world application.

In both elementary and middle school, students learn math conceptually by exploring the "why" behind mathematical procedures. They build strong number sense, recognize patterns, and develop reasoning skills through collaborative discussions, hands-on activities, and problem-based learning. This approach ensures that students not only know how to solve problems but truly understand the underlying mathematics.

To enrich and extend mathematical thinking, we integrate the arts into our math instruction. Students use drawing, sculpture, music, and movement to explore concepts such as geometry, symmetry, ratios, and measurement. Whether designing a scale model in 6th grade or creating a rhythmic pattern in 2nd grade, arts integration helps students visualize and express mathematical ideas in creative and meaningful ways.

By combining high-quality curriculum with arts-rich experiences, RioGAFA students develop not only strong math skills but also confidence, perseverance, and a genuine love of learning.

Elementary: Students will participate in hands on science activities provided by and storylines to provide authentic scientific investigations. Students will engage in physical and arts activities that provides cognitive content and instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for physical fitness

Middle School: Students will engage in three-dimensional phenomenon based science inquiry. The curriculum makes science accessible and allows students to develop their ability to solve problems, ask and answer questions, and argue from evidence. The curriculum is supported through the integration of the arts. 

Elementary: Humanities and culture is integrated into every aspect of the students learning - literacy, science, and math. Our student's culture and language will be celebrated and we invite families to come share more about their heritage and culture with their child's class and the school. 

Middle School: Also integrated into all learning, culture and language will also be explored and celebrated. We also invite families to come share their story, arts, crafts, and food with our middle school students. We all need to learn from one another!