Pre-K
Lafayette’s Pre-K classrooms use Creative Curriculum — a comprehensive, research-based program that prioritizes play-based learning centered around engaging themes. The SY2025-26 themes are All About Me at School, Healthy Bodies, Author Studies, Growing Things, and Pollinators & Insects. Our youngest students are engaged in hands-on, project-based investigations which help them build confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills. They learn foundational literacy skills through the use of Heggerty to develop phonological awareness and foundational mathematical thinking skills through the use of Building Blocks.
Our Vision for Reading and Writing Instruction
At Lafayette, we empower students to become confident, skilled readers and writers through a strong foundation in the Science of Reading, direct and explicit instruction, and intentional knowledge building across content areas. Our students apply their literacy skills in meaningful, authentic ways—thinking critically, communicating clearly, and engaging with diverse texts to deepen understanding of the world around them.
K-5 ELA
Lafayette’s English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum is Wit and Wisdom. Across four units each year, we take a knowledge-building approach that integrates reading, writing, social studies, speaking, and listening skills. Key components include strategic questioning, close examination of artwork, and daily practice with diverse and complex texts. The curriculum directly teaches writing skills and has a strong emphasis on the connection between content, craft, and opportunities to create work in an authentic context.
To support our Science of Reading aligned approach to ELA instruction, we also use Heggerty to teach phonological awareness in grades K-1, Fundations to teach phonics skills in K-2, and Morpheme Magic to teach morphology in grades 3-5.
Our Vision for Math Instruction
At Lafayette, our young mathematicians are confident, resilient problem solvers who collaborate, communicate using precise mathematical language, and apply their knowledge to real-world situations. They embrace mistakes as learning opportunities, persevere through challenges, and demonstrate deep understanding by using multiple strategies and representations.
K-5 Math
In our math classrooms, you will see numbers and geometry come to life! We use EurekaMath2 (EM2) as our foundational curricula. Each day, children will have the opportunity to engage with one another, hands-on manipulative, and open-ended questions that make them think critically about mathematical relationships through the following lesson components:
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Launch: A short introduction to the day’s new concept, often using a real-world context or visual model.
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Learn: The core of the lesson where the new concept is introduced and explored, often using a vignette format and including a problem set for students to practice.
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Land: A time for students to synthesize their learning through a student debrief and exit ticket.
Our Vision for Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
At Lafayette, our students develop the social-emotional skills needed to thrive as compassionate, confident, and responsible members of our school community. Through the Peace of Mind curriculum and our Strong Start and Strong Close routines, students build self-awareness, strengthen relationships, communicate with empathy, and practice self-regulation. They learn to navigate challenges with resilience, reflect on their growth, and contribute to a safe, inclusive environment where everyone feels valued.
A Schoolwide Approach to SEL
Lafayette’s curriculum for Social Emotional Learning is called Peace of Mind. In addition to informing our schoolwide “rules” to Speak, Act, and Move Mindfully (SAMM) and being used by classroom teachers, Peace class is taught as a stand-alone specials class just like art, music, PE, and library.
Schoolwide, each student participates in a Strong Start and a Strong Close to every school day, consistent with the Whole Child Model.