Curriculum
Telra Institute's K-5 curriculum offers a rigorous and comprehensive foundation with tailored acceleration and enrichment opportunities for every student every day.
Mathematics
In mathematics, Telra employs the Singapore Math curriculum for younger students (grades K-1) and Beast Academy math for older students (grades 2-5)
Singapore Math
The nation of Singapore has consistently ranked at the top on international mathematics exams. Singapore's curriculum was adapted and introduced to the U.S in 1998 and is now in widespread use in both public and private schools.
The Singapore method is known for its rigor and its focus on learning fewer concepts at a greater depth than traditional U.S. math curricula. Students master the concepts and can move on rather than having to "spiral" back and revisit topics as they do in other curricula.
Beast Academy Math
Beast Academy is a problem-solving oriented math curriculum designed with advanced math learners in mind. The program was developed by the mathematics enthusiasts at the Art of Problem Solving to be the curriculum they wish they had as young students.
The program focuses on building a foundation for more advanced math and science classes, instilling a joy of problem-solving, developing flexibility and perseverance, and teaching students to develop new insights on their own.
Sciences and Humanities
In the Sciences and Humanities, Telra uses a compacted version of the Core Knowledge sequence heavily enriched with curricula developed by the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William & Mary.
This approach provides the students the benefits of a comprehensive common foundation of content knowledge while creating ample time for enrichment, exploration, inquiry, and the development of advanced skills.
Language Arts
Our youngest learners start with the Core Knowledge Language Arts program, which is divided into two strands:
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The Skills strand focuses on basic literacy—reading, writing, and grammar.
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The Listening & Learning strand focuses on building background knowledge and vocabulary, benefiting from tight integration with Science, Geography, and History.
As students progress, they spend more time with the Language Arts program developed by the W&M Center for Gifted Education, which includes award winning literature units, and the Jacob's Ladder reading comprehension program focused on developing critical thinking skills
Science
The Core Knowledge Science sequence provides students with a firm, cumulative knowledge base in science and engineering design, informed by the Next Generation Science Standards.
W&M Center for Gifted Education has developed a series of problem-based science units for advanced learners. In addition to exposing them to scientific concepts, these units engage students directly in scientific investigation, explore the relationship of science to all areas of human activity, and develop scientific habits of mind.
Social Studies
The Core Knowledge History and Geography sequence helps students build knowledge of diverse civilizations, cultures, and concepts, while incorporating topics from civics & arts and integrating tightly with the Language Arts program.
We supplement this with the W&M Center for Gifted Education Social Studies units which promote more primary source analysis, systems of cause and effect, and critical thinking.
Gym
We believe physical activity is important enough that our students enjoy PE every day. Everything from the traditions of ancient Greece to modern research findings support the idea that honing the body (aside from its intrinsic health benefits) also facilitates learning.
Research shows that physical activity improves speed and accuracy of cognitive tasks, the ability to focus attention, and of course long-term positive health outcomes.
Specials and Explore
Our rotational "specials" include traditional offerings like Art & Music as well as some courses typically not found in K-5 settings such as Keyboarding, Coding/Robotics, Economics, and Financial Literacy.
Our grade 4 and 5 students participate in a daily interdisciplinary workshop called “Explore."
Explore is organized into 2-4 week sessions in which students can select a passion project from a set of rotating offerings developed by their teachers. One group of students may be filming and editing a movie, while another group builds a Rube Goldberg device, and a third group learns number theory.
