Curriculum

Reading/Language Arts        Reid School is an exciting and innovative center for reading/writing/speaking/language arts education. Reid School staff members are using the ECRI (Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction) teaching techniques which require 100% mastery of its students.           Reid School staff members teach new vocabulary, comprehension, study skills, writing, speaking, and listening skills daily in their literature, science, and social studies classes. Students are taught to lead discussion groups.           Monthly memorization of poetry, readers' theatre, drama, music, and computer activities aid in language instruction at Reid School. Staff members include: reading/language arts teachers, music specialists, drama and speech teachers, in addition to the Spanish, computer specialists, science and mathematics specialists. A yearly Shakespeare Festival is held in addition to other exciting programs that reflect Reid School’s emphasis on reading/language arts.    Mathematics           In both reading/language arts and mathematics subjects, students are placed at their instructional levels. This means they are cross-grade grouped and there are multi-ages within each classroom. Students move ahead in the curriculum as rapidly as they demonstrate mastery. Teachers employ direct instructional techniques. Mathematics instruction focuses on problem-solving strategies as well as procedural techniques. The Mathematics Fair is held annually by algebra students.           Social Studies/Sciences           Instruction begins with hands-on learning. Key vocabulary is introduced. Field trip experiences and resource persons are critical elements in providing concrete and vicarious learning experiences for the students. In addition to the regular science program, students participate in science laboratory activities as early as kindergarten at least once every two weeks and on a regular basis beginning at fourth grade level. Students begin learning research skills and presentation strategies in second grade with the Indian Pow-Wow, in third with County Fair studies, State Fair studies in fourth grade, World Fair studies in fifth and sixth grade, and science fairs in seventh, eighth and ninth grades. The World Fairs and Science Fairs are judged. All students participate in Science Days each year.           Humanities           Spanish, instrumental music, guitar, dance, drama, and art teachers enhance the classroom instruction. Students provide musical programs for parents two and three times a year. A Shakespeare play is produced annually and all students participate in the play and/or the Green Show. Spanish is taught during the day from kindergarten through grade nine. French and German are taught after school. Preparatory Level students (7th through 9th grade) and their families travel to Mexico to study the Mayan ruins every other January, to Washington D.C. and to Boston/New York on alternate years. Every other summer a trip to Europe is planned for students and their families. A specialist teaches art as well as the classroom teachers. A Fine Arts Fair is held annually and the “Best of Show” is framed and hung in the school.           The Chess Club meets Mondays and Wednesdays before school. Students from sixth grade through ninth can register in studio or on-location video broadcasting classes that meet for an hour three days a week. Students produce an outstanding yearbook annually. The Journalism Club is popular.    Over 90 literature kits, divided into genre, thematic, and author and illustrator studies enhance the teaching of reading, social studies, science, music, art, and health.    All students attend at least one play at City Rep and Pioneer Memorial Theatre, and fifth graders are involved in the Utah Symphony Youth Program.           Computer Science           Second grade through ninth grade students may advance from Computer Lab 1 (mastery of basic keyboarding skills) to Computer Lab 2 where advanced computer skills are taught. Students learn common business applications as well as applications used to publish to the Internet. Students also gain valuable knowledge about how to use a computer’s file system as well as how to navigate the World Wide Web safely and effectively.  Reid School is capable of communicating with other schools nationally via Internet Video Conferencing.       Electives           Fourth grade through ninth grade students register for Tuesday and Thursday Electives. They choose each month among nine different choices such as “Medieval Times,” “Mind Your P’s and Q’s,” “Archaeology,” “Microscopy,” “Egyptology,” “Video Production and Propaganda Techniques,” etc.