Kindergarten & 1st Grade

• Beginning the process of becoming lifelong learners:

Students in our K-1 loop begin their GCCS experience by making friends, establishing classroom routines, and learning about longstanding GCCS traditions. Daily opportunities for play – both indoors and outdoors – provide students with the much-needed time for physical activity and socialization at this age.

• Crew work & flexible groupings:

Crew work and flexible groupings are important aspects of K-1 instruction. Expedition work naturally encourages students to collaborate and solve conflicts peacefully. Our 10:1 ratio allows for small-group instruction to meet the needs of our students during these formative years.

• Kindergarten Screenings:

During the first week of school – while the other grades jump right into their learning – each Kindergartener participates in a screening conducted by their teachers. These screenings allow the teachers to determine the academic standing of the class and adjust lesson plans as needed.

2nd & 3rd Grades

• Emerging talents:

As our budding authors and emergent readers transition into 2nd grade, they continue to benefit from small-group instruction in foundational reading skills. By 3rd grade, nearly all reading material and writing assignments are generated by Expedition content. Expedition work, in this context, helps to improve literacy skills and opportunities for crew work. Students write poetry, nonfiction articles about a researched topic, and biographies.

• Importance of group work:

Our students’ social skills mature as they take on the dynamics of group work and are able to complete a finished product or goal. Teachers expect their students at this age to become more independent problem-solvers. By the end of 3rd grade, our students are equipped to work in crews or independently.

4th & 5th Grades

• Rising to higher levels:

In 4th & 5th grades, our students physically move to the second-floor environment of the building. They are expected to meet greater academic demands and higher expectations of character. Expedition content increases in complexity and challenges our students, both in their comprehension and social interactions. Students at this level show more sophistication in their ability to conduct independent research from multiple perspectives. Reading and writing is devoted almost exclusively to Expedition work. Fieldwork becomes more rigorous as multi-day field studies provide in-depth experiences.

• Working independently:

Our 4th & 5th graders continue to develop their independence, even as social relationships grow in importance at this age. Classroom instruction and activities are designed to inspire empathy towards one another and better understand viewpoints from multiple perspectives. Our students learn to be inclusive and take on leadership roles at GCCS and the greater community.

6th Grade (Capstone Year)

• Emerging as leaders in the GCCS community:

The 6th grade environment at GCCS encourages leadership, responsibility, and activism. With appropriate supports in place, students have more social and academic freedom and take on significant roles at school and in the community.

• Paving the way for societal change:

Each year, the GCCS 6th grade class takes on a different “hot topic” to investigate in the Rochester community. Teachers expose students to many perspectives on the issue and the class researches solutions developed in other cities around the globe. This research culminates in our students presenting their solution to city officials and other stakeholders.

• 6th Grade Passage Presentations:

At the end of their 6th grade year, each student creates a Passage Presentation and shares it with a panel of school and community representatives. Students present portfolios of their work and describe their growth as human beings as they leave GCCS and continue their journey as a lifelong learner.