Classes
Northwest Adventist Christian School places high value on structuring its academic programs so that everyone can be successful. Many different components make that possible. Small groups, multi-grade setting, online learning, and individual tutoring are all possibilities at our school. We offer a challenging curriculum that can and is altered to meet the needs of varying students.
Textbooks/Curriculum
Bible - The Adventist Encounter Curriculum has a Biblical discipleship focus and seeks to transform students’ lives and equip them to walk with God. It uses the Bible as the foundational source of truth (the textbook), while focusing on students’ personal walk with Jesus. It also uses the latest pedagogy practices so that students become “thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other men’s thoughts.” (EGW, Education, p. 17) It focuses on both content and process in students’ learning.
Language Arts - We use a combination of Pathways, Reading A-Z, Words Their Way, Typing Pal, A Reason for Writing/Spelling, and Handwriting without Tears. These are used within the structure of reading/writing workshops. Students become better readers and writers by reading and writing.
Math - This year we are using a combination of Harcourt math and IXL online learning.
Science - The ByDesign curriculum, based on national science standards, is presented in the context of the Seventh-day Adventist worldview. Each grade level is organized by four units: Life Science, Human Body, Earth and Space Science, and Physical Science. Health is integrated within each unit and chapter. In order to cover all standards, students rotate through different themes each year.
Social Studies - To move beyond traditional textbooks, the social studies consumable student editions for Grades K-3 take a portfolio approach for students. In Grade 4 students transition to a hard-cover text. Dynamic graphics combined with relevant text allows students to "experience" social studies rather than just reading and answering questions. Students have the opportunity to interact with the text through a variety of activities. As in science, students rotate through different themes each year.
Students also participate in art, music, and PE classes as well as attend field trips that support further exploration of the topics studied in the classroom. We are working to include more project based learning and community service outreach projects into our curriculum.