The Swain Curriculum

Academics - An integrated approach

At Swain, integrating different skill sets into all areas of the curriculum is a mandate. Our small size allows classroom faculty to work closely with our specialists in Art, Music, Technology and Library Science. Thus, teachers can enrich and augment their lessons in exciting ways.

Putting it all together

For instance, fifth graders learning about Central America in Social Studies class would be treated to Mayan myths during their Library periods. In the Technology Lab they would use the Internet to gather research about mudslides in Nicaragua, agriculture in Costa Rica and manufacturing in Mexico.

In Art, they might experiment with bark painting or learn to make clay pinch pots. Music classes would feature folk songs and dances. In this way, the fifth graders would learn about the cultures of Central America from many different and important perspectives.

We believe that this approach gives children a more interesting and useful educational experience. The Swain philosophy is applied to all grades and subject areas, and we have found that it results in a well-rounded child with a firm educational base; a student capable of acting independently and approaching a problem from different perspectives.