Southwest Primary - Curriculum & Schedule
The Southwest Primary Learning Center classroom schedule is from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.We treat each core subject area independently as the concepts and depth of study in each area expand. A heavy emphasis is placed on expanding vocabulary using words the students are exposed to through the core subjects: social studies, math, language arts and science. The curriculum is closely tied to the benchmark standards of the State of New Mexico.
At Southwest Primary Learning Center, our students’ education is supplemented with physical education, computer-assisted instruction in the “Smart Lab”, Spanish classes, art and music. Technology has an important emphasis at Southwest Primary Learning Center. The “Smart Lab” has many PCs for individual instruction, a “Teamwork Room” where a group of students can simultaneously work on computer challenges using a wide- screen monitor and a fully functional wind tunnel where the students can perform scientific studies.
Several field trips a year also help to supplement the curriculum, including the following:
• La Cienega, a village near Santa Fe to explore colonial life in the Southwest.
• Theatre Events.
• Symphony Events
• Explora Children’s Museum
• The Round House in Santa Fe in February to observe the State Legislature during a session.
4th Grade
Language Arts
Reading and Listening for Comprehension; Writing and Speaking for Expression; Literature and Media.
Science
Scientific Thinking and Practice; Physical Science; Life Science; Earth and Space Science.
Math
Numbers and Operations; Algebra; Geometry; Measurement; Data Analysis and Probability.
Social Studies
History; Geography; Civics and Government; Economics.
If the student is to grasp a concept, the way a subject is taught is often as important as the subject itself. Therefore, much emphasis is placed on supplementing the curriculum with innovative techniques. These techniques include such things as the Readers’ Theatre, Teacher Read-aloud, Writers’ Workshop and Jeanette Farmer’s Handwriting materials.
5th Grade
Language Arts
Reading and Listening for Comprehension.
Science
Scientific Thinking and Practice; Physical Science; Life Science; Earth and Space Science.
Math
Numbers and Operations; Graphing; Geometry; Measurement; Data Analysis and Probability.
Social Studies
History; Geography; Civics and Government; Economics.
Emphasis in the fifth grade is directed at the student becoming a competent computer user and in becoming knowledgeable American citizens. Two-finger typing will be enhanced with keyboarding and word processing skills, while the student learns to research topics about our government on the Internet as well as other sources of information.
6th Grade
Language Arts
Reading and Listening for Comprehension.
Science
Scientific Thinking and Practice; Physical Science; Life Science; Earth and Space Science.
Math
Numbers and Operations; Algebra; Geometry; Measurement; Data Analysis and Probability.
Social Studies
History; Geography; Civics and Government; Economics.
Sixth grade is the gateway to middle school. At the Southwest Primary Learning Center, the sixth grade is included as the highest elementary grade level. Emphasis is in preparing students for the computer-assisted instruction that hallmarks the middle school/high school curriculum at Southwest Learning Centers. This will include an emphasis on learning to work independently, since this will be needed as they work through the computer-education classes. This capstone year at Southwest Primary Learning Center will yield students who are prepared for the more rigorous challenges of middle school and high school, and who are becoming knowledgeable about the world around us and how our societies have developed.