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JUNIOR PREP

GRADES 1-3

The Preparatory (commonly known as primary school) is founded on a solid system of good values and morals and we are always focusing on and giving priority to providing an excellent, top-class education for your children today!

We are very passionate about your children, our pupils. It is our goal to work hand-in-hand with parents in educating and assisting your children and helping them to achieve all that they have set out to do in their life – even starting at such a tender, young age.

During their primary education, students are taught to think critically, to strive to attain high standards, to meet the challenges posed by technological advancements and to develop basic values.

SCHOOLING WITH

CONFIDENCE

At Archers College, our Grade 1 learners enter their first year of formal schooling with confidence because of the excellent foundation established in Grade R on which they now continue to build.

The focus of learning is on developing fundamental language and mathematical skills, first in a concrete way and then followed through on with written application.

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE TAILORED TO YOUR CHILD'S NEEDS

We strive to ensure that each child enjoys an individual learning experience tailored specifically to his or her individual needs and particular learning style. Educators ensure lessons taught appeal to the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, sensory, physical and verbal learners, as each and every child learns in a different way. Our busier learners can often be found sitting on a large pilates ball, or keeping busy with an item from our “calm down box”, such as a stress ball or bubble wrap, whilst listening to the teacher give an explanation or whilst completing a task. We also provide tools for our left-handed learners, who may require it, that assist with their pencil grip and make it a little easier for them to work.

Grade 1 – 3 learners still enjoy learning about various “Themes,” and these change every two to three weeks. Arts and crafts activities and make ‘n bake sessions are centered around the theme for the week and are a favourite amongst the children. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and inquiry-based learning is also now featuring more in our day-to-day curriculum, and the learners absolutely love the learning opportunities provided, where the teacher too is seen as a learner, and the students themselves take on an active role in their learning process. 

We ensure that when the learners move on from Grade 3, they have learnt important skills that will equip them for what is in store for their next phase of learning. The learners’ introduction to Project-Based and Inquiry-Based learning throughout their junior years adequately prepares them for that is in store on a bigger level in the senior prep years.

We ensure that when the learners move on from Grade 3, they have learnt important skills that will equip them for what is in store for their next phase of learning.

The learners’ introduction to Project-Based and Inquiry-Based learning throughout their junior years adequately prepares them for that is in store on a bigger level in the senior prep years. 

LEARNING PODS

Throughout the junior phase or learning, children may form part of a multi-graded classroom setting (Grades 1’s and 2’s together) – we refer to these as “Learning Pods.” This is based on our class size numbers, and at times our classes are too small to place into single-graded classes. There are tremendous benefits to multi-graded classroom settings or ‘Learning Pods’ such as these.

The benefits include:

  • For starters, children mix with others who are slightly older or slightly younger. Very often we have children whose birthdays are much later in the year, and as such they naturally enjoy making friends with children who are younger. This would happen with ease in a multi-graded class.
  • Pre-learning and re-teaching – students are continuously exposed to re-teaching, as they listen in on, and benefit from lessons, which are being taught. Students are also exposed to pre-teaching.
    This both prepares and stimulates the young students thinking.
  • The Multi-Grade school is the main feasible school arrangement that is centred around enhancing teaching and learning conditions for student’s mental and physical growth.
  • The Multi-Grade classroom exhibits an amazing instructive tool for advancing autonomous and individualised learning. This sort of teaching and learning is an incredible focal point since the education program is acclimated to the explicit needs of individuals and consequently adds to better learning results.
  • Students can develop healthier social relationships, positive attitudes and enhance leadership, listening, sharing and other important skills.
  • Problem-solving, higher-level thinking, and learning methods develop at an earlier point, simply because of the immersion experience that brings students together.

A SCHOOL FOR NOW

In the Junior Prep, we always revert back to our foremost goal – that is to provide a SCHOOL FOR NOW. We strive to equip our children with everyday life-long skills that will carry them into the future. For this reason, our timetable encompasses cross-curricular learning (i.e. Mathematics is in everything), inquiry-based and project-based learning even more.

Other subjects / content that forms part of the day’s timetable includes:

/ Nature Studies (planting and caring for a vegetable garden)
/ Entrepreneurial skills (running a market day)
/ Cooking classes
/ Coding and Robotics (problem-solving)
/ Art (creativity)

'NO HOMEWORK' POLICY

Primary School is where we build the foundations of our children’s learning. Their attitude to school, their ability to make and develop friendships, their curiosity, creativity and individuality are all fostered throughout the wonderful primary ages. This is where we give children space to ask crazy questions, to build connections, to learn how to disagree and most importantly to begin to express themselves as individuals. Primary School is where children begin to recognise themselves as independent learners.

We have a “no homework policy,” rather in the afternoons we encourage our children to focus on reading, counting, creative writing and problem-solving. Assigned tasks for afternoons will always only include the aforementioned.

'NO HOMEWORK' POLICY

Primary School is where we build the foundations of our children’s learning. Their attitude to school, their ability to make and develop friendships, their curiosity, creativity and individuality are all fostered throughout the wonderful primary ages. This is where we give children space to ask crazy questions, to build connections, to learn how to disagree and most importantly to begin to express themselves as individuals. Primary School is where children begin to recognise themselves as independent learners.

We have a “no homework policy,” rather in the afternoons we encourage our children to focus on reading, counting, creative writing and problem-solving. Assigned tasks for afternoons will always only include the aforementioned.

PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR THE FUTURE

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© ARCHERS COLLEGE 2020