Reading

First-grade teachers are in our third year of Lucy Calkins Writer’s Workshop implementation. The curriculum is research-based and used in classrooms across the globe. Our units of study focus on narrative, opinion, and informational writing. This program helps to develop a life-long love of writing and equips each author with the tools and independence needed to create books of all varieties.

During a unit, students are guided through the...Read more

Thinking about elementary school may bring up memories of multiplication facts, phonics, or memorizing state capitals. But what about research projects? For Rossman students, research projects are a core component of education. Surprisingly, the experience may not be all that different from your own experience in middle or high school, with a few modifications to ensure that it’s safe and developmentally appropriate for our students....Read more

What is fluency?

Reading fluency is the ability to read a text at a steady rate, with expression and accuracy. Fluency has a direct correlation to reading comprehension, and can often be an indicator of your child’s understanding of a text. A common misconception associated with the term “fluency” is that a fluent reader is a quick reader. Children who read too quickly often insert or omit keywords, are unable to recall important details and read through punctuation.

Is your child ready to work on fluency?  

Students who are still...Read more

Not all kids are voracious readers, but those who aren't can be convinced it is a worthwhile experience. You may have two or more children in the same family with different attitudes toward reading. I did! One read in the bathtub, at recess and walking the dog (all bad ideas). Every spare minute of her day was filled with reading. My other child was more hands-on with learning and worked well on projects and building. Very different! Parents often have to adjust and adapt and make reading fun!

In her article...Read more

Did you know that all independent schools have an Annual Fund – elementary schools, secondary schools and even colleges? While public schools rely on support from the government and taxes, private schools rely solely on tuition, income from their endowment and Annual Fund gifts.

Parent support of Rossman’s Annual Fund is vital to the success of the school. You might ask, “How does my Annual Fund gift affect my child, his classmates, the faculty and staff, or the school?” A few of our faculty and staff reflected on some of the ways the Annual Fund enhances learning in and out of the...Read more

One of my favorite photos of my children has them on different levels of an interior staircase, both grasping the wooden rail, as they headed to the second floor of the London home of Benjamin Franklin. They tease me now because they say I insisted they hold the stair rail because Franklin himself touched it. They are right. Just as I insisted they touch the pew in St. Paul’s Chapel where George Washington worshiped while serving as our nation’s first president and the brass knob on the blue door to enter Vincent Van Gogh’s home.

When traveling, I love to visit places that offer a...Read more

An important component of the fifth grade reading curriculum is the book club experience. In the fall, students read one of a selection of stories from Sudan, Mexico, China, Chile and India to help them learn about different cultures around the world. In the spring, they read one of four time-tested novels for their age group that help them understand what it means for a work of literature to be considered a “classic.”

Students are expected to come to each scheduled meeting with not only their assigned chapters read but also their “job” packets completed. At every meeting, each...Read more

First grade students spend two weeks each year learning about domestic and global poverty through a critical literacy unit. Critical literacy instruction is one way to engage students in the study of other cultures, current events and social justice in a developmentally appropriate way. The format aims to teach students how to read a text in a...Read more

Junior Kindergarten is where the foundation for all learning at Rossman School begins. We help foster the creation of readers, writers, inventors, scientists, artists, mathematicians, engineers, and more. Creating a reader begins at home by exposing your child to words in print as you snuggle together to enjoy a book. Throughout our school day, we provide as many opportunities as possible to bring good literature to your child.

“In a book, anything can happen!” Just ask anyone in Junior Kindergarten! This is just one of the many things we often talk about as we read...Read more