Elementary School Program 

1st-4th Grade

Bixby and Friends Elementary School Program brings learning to life through an innovative team-teaching, integrated studies model blended with social emotional literacy. Students master core academics while exploring meaningful work that inspires curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. They learn to see connections across subjects and discover how their knowledge can make a real difference in the world.

Math, Literacy, and Social Studies are co-taught by content specialists. Integrated studies classes explore complex real-world questions through the lens of multiple subjects, like Science, Math, Literacy and History, and their relationship to each other. Classes in Music, Art, Spanish, Science and Swim offer mixed-age learning in small groups. This model allows for customized and flexible instruction to challenge and explore students’ interests, talents, and passions.

Every child’s experience is organized around their connection to:

Integrated studies directly builds agency, meaning, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Teachers specialize in a single content area teaching small groups, so students learn at their “just right” level of challenge as they build genuine knowledge and understanding, not just memorize facts. Students learn to be mathematical thinkers, not human calculators.

Through social-emotional learning and individualized support, students discover their strengths, understand themselves as learners, and learn to self advocate. Small classes ensure every child is deeply known, while thoughtful, research-based learning fosters curiosity, confidence, independence, and critical thinking. Twice weekly swim lessons in our heated salt water pool teach essential safety skills while supporting each child’s physical and emotional balance.

Students start every day in morning circle, connecting with their classmates. At the start of every school year and semester, full school days are dedicated to community building service work. Working with the broader community and the surrounding environment gives children a sense of place within a wider context and community.

Connecting with nature increases joy, reduces anxiety, and supports children’s cognitive and physical development. Substantial outdoor time is woven into each day through recess, specials, and choice time, with regular fieldwork and experiential learning that help children feel grounded, connected, and ready to learn.

Elementary School Fast Facts:

 

  • 8:30am-3:15pm
  • Student teacher ratio approx 9:1
  • 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th cohorts follow a two-year curriculum
  • Art, Music, Spanish, Swim, Sports/PE taught weekly by additional Specialist teachers
 

 

  • Experiential Fridays allow for extended learning outside the classroom
  • Low screen usage – screens are used intentionally to create not consume information or as a substitute for teaching
  • 40+ fields trips each year
  • Swim curriculum in our heated salt water pool

     

EXPLORE BIXBY AND FRIENDS

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