K/1/2
Curious minds.
Confident learners.
Built on the belief that children are natural learners, K/1/2 invites students to explore, ask questions, make choices and take an active role in their learning.
Three Years to Grow, Lead and Belong
There is a particular magic to the K/1/2 years.
Stanley’s program begins with the premise that children do not need to be made to learn, but allowed to learn. Teachers create vibrant, engaging classrooms where natural curiosity is nurtured through hands-on exploration, purposeful play and meaningful choice. As children investigate, create, question and reflect, they build strong academic foundations alongside creativity, independence, self-awareness and confidence in themselves as learners.
Students spend three years in a K/1/2 classroom, experiencing the changing roles of being the youngest, middle and oldest members of their learning community. This creates natural opportunities for collaboration, mentorship and leadership while allowing children to develop at their own pace.
Across the three-year experience, students revisit important concepts with increasing depth, independence and complexity.
Play remains an important part of learning throughout the K/1/2 years. Through purposeful play and choice, children create, experiment, interact socially, make decisions, discover interests and take appropriate risks.
These experiences strengthen problem solving, creativity and self-awareness.
Throughout the K/1/2 years, students are given frequent opportunities to make choices, reflect on their learning and develop a strong sense of self.
They leave with stronger academic skills, greater independence and the confidence to take on increasing complexity.
Meeting Each Child Where They Are
Known deeply. Challenged thoughtfully.
Differentiation is woven throughout the K/1/2 experience. Teachers use small-group instruction, ongoing observation and assessment to understand each child’s progress and adjust learning in real time. Learning Resource Teachers work alongside classroom teams to provide targeted support, scaffolding and extension, helping every student grow from where they are.
~5:1
Student-to-teacher ratio during small-group math and literacy
Small-Group Instruction
Learning groups allow teachers to respond closely to individual strengths and needs.
Integrated Learning Support
Learning Resource Teachers collaborate directly with classroom teams to provide support and extension.
Ongoing Assessment
Formal benchmarks and daily observation help teachers monitor growth and adjust instruction.
Curricular Components
Strong foundations for increasingly complex learning.
Explore Stanley’s full Curriculum Guide for a closer look at the learning progression, instructional approach and experiences that shape the K/1/2 years.
Explore the Curriculum Guide →Reading
Grounded in the Science of Reading and implemented using the Orton-Gillingham IMSE method, explicit, multisensory instruction develops phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
Arts & Making
Through visual art, makerspace, music and dance, students explore materials, communicate ideas, solve problems, collaborate and develop their creative voices.
Writing
Students learn to see themselves as writers through authentic daily opportunities to communicate ideas, progressing from drawing, labeling and inventive spelling to increasingly structured work across multiple genres.
Physical Education
Through movement, games and cooperative challenges, students develop foundational athletic skills, body awareness, strategic thinking, teamwork and confidence.
Word Work
Systematic daily instruction using Wilson Fundations and IMSE builds skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, fluency, segmenting, blending, syllabication, spelling patterns and high-frequency words.
Choice
Open-ended experiences invite children to follow their interests, create, solve problems, interact socially, take thoughtful risks and develop independence and self-awareness.
Mathematics
Anchored in Illustrative Math, instruction emphasizes rich number sense, flexible thinking and practical applications through hands-on materials, games, math talks and small-group learning.
Social-Emotional Learning
Weekly lessons from a dedicated SEL specialist and daily classroom practice build skills in self-regulation, conflict resolution, collaboration, advocacy, courage and compassion.
Science & Engineering
Students become scientists and engineers through active inquiry, hands-on investigation, evidence-based thinking and collaborative problem-solving.
Beyond the Classroom
Field trips and special guests extend curricular units beyond the classroom, creating meaningful connections between students’ learning, their community and the world around them.
Social Studies
Integrated across the curriculum, social studies explores identity, community and citizenship, geography, cultures, traditions and economics.
Technology
Technology use is intentionally limited at this age to prioritize social interaction, hands-on experiences and conceptual development in the real world.
Spanish
Through stories, songs, conversations, games and cultural exploration, students build confidence in listening, speaking, reading and writing while developing curiosity and global awareness.
Homework
Homework begins in January of 2nd grade, giving students opportunities to practice academic skills and prepare for the expectations of the upper elementary years.
See Stanley in Action
See learning like this in action.
The best way to understand a Stanley classroom is to experience one. Come see how curiosity, connection and joyful learning come together every day.