Lower Elementary School
Cohort Placement at AMPed
At AMPed, students are placed within learning cohorts based on academic readiness, social development, independence, and learning needs—not strictly by age or grade. These cohorts reflect how learning evolves over time and are designed to support growth, responsibility, and increasing academic complexity, rather than fixed grade-level boundaries.
Learning Through Exploration, Structure, and Joy
Lower Elementary at AMPed is intentionally designed around how young children actually learn—through curiosity, movement, relationships, and hands-on exploration. This cohort lays the foundation for lifelong learning by helping students see themselves as capable, curious, and confident learners.
Faculty design learning experiences that integrate literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and social-emotional development into meaningful investigations. Skills are explicitly taught, practiced, and applied within real contexts, allowing students to build understanding while staying deeply engaged.
How Learning Works in Lower Elementary
Learning is guided by inquiry and supported by clear structure. Teachers carefully scaffold experiences so students can explore ideas while developing foundational academic and social skills.
Instruction emphasizes:
- Early reading and writing through authentic texts, storytelling, and shared inquiry
- Mathematical thinking through real-world problem solving and hands-on materials
- Scientific curiosity through observation, questioning, and simple experimentation
- Social learning through collaboration, communication, and reflection
Students are guided step by step—learning how to ask questions, persist through challenges, and work productively with others.
What Students Are Learning to Do
In this cohort, students are developing the ability to:
- Express ideas through speaking, drawing, writing, and building
- Listen, collaborate, and contribute within a learning community
- Apply foundational literacy and math skills in authentic situations
- Reflect on their learning and celebrate growth
Demonstrating Learning
Learning is demonstrated through projects, conversations, visual models, early portfolios, and exhibitions that celebrate progress and effort. By the end of Lower Elementary, learners have strong foundations, a positive sense of self, and a genuine love of learning.
