Kindergarten and Grade 1

Reading, writing, spelling, listening and language are taught using multi-sensory teaching. A balanced literacy approach emphasizes the importance of thorough phonetic grounding, using decoding strategies, building fluency and expression, and expanding vocabulary. We believe all children should develop a love of reading. Children use their phonic knowledge to decode words and participate in discussions about a variety of books.

Comprehension strategies of predicting, questioning, sequencing, summarising, and drawing conclusions are also developed. Daily language activities include shared reading, guided reading and independent reading. A wide range of schemes and resources allow every level of understanding to be accommodated and developed.

Children learn the creative writing process by brainstorming, planning, drafting, editing and publishing stories. Written activities include story and letter writing, diary entries, life stories and poetry.

Cursive handwriting is practised daily using a range of methods and opportunities for extension.

We encourage children to make rich connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency and mathematical reasoning. Our mathematics curriculum focuses on children embedding the key principles of maths: number and place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, measurement, properties of shape, position and direction and data handling. We spend significant time ensuring children grasp these principles and are ready for more challenging work as they progress through the school. Numicon is used throughout the school to support number understanding.

The children become mathematical thinkers through a curriculum that is challenging, interactive and fun. A strong emphasis is placed upon building mental agility, developing thinking skills, problem-solving and understanding. Mathematics is taught through practical-based activities, computer-based learning resources and formal written methods.
Learning undertaken during the school day is consolidated and extended at home through a balanced use of interactive online Maths activities that children are able to access from a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Whether a child is a scientist in the making or a passive explorer they will no doubt enjoy navigating their way through the curriculum in our hands-on laboratory from the Kindergarten onwards.

Science is a core subject and is taught through topic areas. Children develop practical scientific skills including: questioning, observation, identifying and classifying, performing simple tests, making predictions and reaching conclusions. Children are given opportunities to learn about the world and become curious about the world.

Trips to The American Museum of Natural History, the Botanical Gardens and the New York Hall of Science alongside the New York zoos will support the children’s learning.

Manners, respect, friendship and co-operation underpin all we do. Social studies are crucial if we expect the young people of today to become active, responsible citizens for maintaining the democratic values in today’s society.

To make our pupil’s learning experience relevant to being in New York City we follow the New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies encompassing, History of the United States and New York; World History; Geography; Economics; Civics, Citizenship & Government.

Through project-based explorations children become critical thinkers in an ever-changing world and develop an awareness of community and an understanding of the way that geography, cultural beliefs, and technological advancements shape history.

The children’s creativity and imagination is expanded through art, craft and design activities. The children explore and begin to understand use of colour, shape, space, pattern and texture using a range of media and experimental techniques. Children’s creativity and imagination are developed through drawing, painting and sculpture.
They will focus on the work of artists, craftspeople and designers enhanced by visits to the many art museums on offer in New York.

We aim to nurture creativity and innovation through design and construction and children develop their technical knowledge through exciting investigative approaches to construction; building structures and exploring mechanisms.

Wetherby-Pembridge is proud to follow the Musical Explorer’s Programme provided by Carnegie Hall and the children in Kindergarten and Grade 1 attend Carnegie Hall for a musical concert twice a year to support the Curriculum. This allows students to explore a diverse range of musical genres found in their New York City neighbourhood.

Private Piano and Violin lessons are also on offer which take place during the course of the day. The School follows the Suzuki approach to teaching the Violin, a unique philosophy of music education developed by Shinichi Suzuki.

Our programme allows every child to develop an awareness of and love for music of all styles. All children have weekly class music lessons in which they sing, play percussion instruments, compose and listen to music. Music appreciation is taught through listening activities where they begin to distinguish beat from rhythm and identify differences in pitch, sound and tempo.

They also learn about instruments and composers and are given opportunities to perform in assemblies and school productions. All children have the chance to join the school choir.

The use of IT in lessons also enhances the delivery of the music curriculum.

A love of language is celebrated and nurtured and we teach Spanish as a modern foreign language to all children from Nursery. Children develop their speaking and listening skills with increasing fluency and spontaneity.

Sport is an integral part of every child’s life at Wetherby-Pembridge for a healthy and happy life.

Our children participate in an exciting range of sports with specialist trained teachers. The children are encouraged to develop their physical and spatial skills. Body awareness and co-ordination are developed through movement games and activities using small and larger apparatus.

The School is partnered with the 92Y and Swimming and PE is offered all year round from Pre-kindergarten to Grade 1. Additional Seasonal Sports include Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, T-Ball and Tennis. From September 2018, the School will adopt a new physical literacy programme. The students will take part in the ‘Rising New York Road Runners’ Club which encourages children as young as 4, across New York to run and adopt a mindset of exercise for life. Children also have the chance to take up sabre fencing at the Tim Morehouse Fencing Club on the Upper West Side. Additionally, opportunities to partner with the Chelsea FC Youth Soccer Programme in New York have been successful.

As they move through the school there is increased focus on competitive sporting activities, team work and good sportsmanship.

Read more about our sports and wellbeing here.

The computing curriculum is varied and constantly adapted to ensure children develop up-to-date skills.

Lessons focus on gaining information in a discriminating and effective way including; E-safety (staying safe on the Internet), everyday computing skills, checking the reliability of internet sources, coding and algorithms.

Interactive Boards and the use of tablets in classrooms adds to the existing curriculum. Developing IT skills are a major factor in enabling children to be confident, creative and independent learners.

The curriculum is supported by a diverse range of day trips around New York, all designed to extend and inspire further learning. The Whitney Museum, Guggenheim, Historical Society and the New York Hall of Science feature throughout the academic year.

The students are visited by a range of speakers from ‘Veggiecation’ to talk about Healthy Eating, the NYPD and FDNY to address matters of safety and local community support, notable authors from New York and beyond and experts from all professions to inspire Wetherby-Pembridge students to consider what they want to be when they grow up. The programme is inspired to develop a diverse range of life skills and interests.