Carolina School for Inquiry

Carolina School for Inquiry will strive to provide children with real life experiences that further their
understanding of the basics of reading, mathematics, science, history, and writing while learning
as scientists, authors, historians, and mathematicians do. Children will be engaged in rigorous
units of study that require an understanding of the concepts, content, skills, and strategies
inherent in individual subjects, as well as the interrelationship among subjects. In an effort to
mirror real life experiences, subject areas will be integrated. This will take place in individual
study, small group and whole group inquiry projects, with strategy lessons that focus on skill
development and direct instruction.

The main purpose of any assessment should be to inform instruction in a way that allows
teachers to make decisions that lead toward continued growth and learning. Bear in mind, that for
evaluation to support learning, it must be meaningful to the learner. At CSI, many methods will be
used to assess students. Students will assist with creating rubrics for project evaluation and will
complete teacher made assessments. Dominie Reading and Writing Portfolio of Assessments
will be administered with each child to pinpoint reading strengths and needs. Math inventories will
be done periodically to ascertain student’s abilities as mathematicians. While assessments may
not look the same as it has in your child’s past educational settings, it will be meaningful in ways
that give teachers, students and parents tools to move forward academically. State mandated
tests will be administered at all mandated grade levels.

State curriculum standards will serve as the basis for curriculum design decisions. However, the
order of presentation and methodology used to address standards will be determined by the
classroom teacher after careful observation and documentation of students' needs and interests.
Decisions regarding curriculum development and evaluation strategies will consider how children
learn best, and will be based upon principles of interdisciplinary learning established and
endorsed by leading professional organizations such as the National Council for Teachers of
English, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, The Council for Elementary Science
International, and the National Council for the Social Studies. Interdisciplinary focus studies and/or
expert projects will integrate the use of all subject areas. Skills, strategies, content, and concepts
will be taught within the context of the inquiry-based curriculum.