Academics | Pear Tree Community Schools

PEAR TREE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH

A SOCIAL JUSTICE-INFORMED CURRICULUM

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

We approach education by centering children and families from diverse socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. We believe that education must follow the child and educators must use these practices in their relationships with students and their families. Pear Tree holds these values within the context of a greater understanding that the society in which we are immersed is one that is racist, sexist, classist, and heterosexist. We formed our school with an eye to historical trauma and support our teachers and students by addressing the internalization of these toxic “isms” through research-based curriculum and methods.

MONTESSORI MODEL

A self-paced and hands-on academic approach is crucial for what we do. We believe that students have innate curiosity and a natural drive to learn. Students are empowered with a choice of jobs, which offers our students multiple approaches to literacy and math learning. Manipulatives capture their attention with a game-like appeal and allow children to more deeply understand the material.

A HOLISTIC SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE CHILD

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

We use trauma-informed teaching practices to confront bias and internalized devaluation. We understand our student’s mistakes as learning opportunities. Our staff to student ratio and communication with families allows us to address problems quickly. We use a variety of methods in our school including classroom curriculum, one-on-one and small group interventions, and modified restorative justice circles.

CORE SUBJECTS

Language ● Math ● Science ● Botany

History ● Zoology ● Geography ● Spanish

Individually and in small groups, students direct their Literacy and Math work during hands-on Montessori model sessions. As a classroom, we explore sciences, geography, and cultural topics. History and cultural topics are introduced with social justice in mind. Our students begin with pre-colonial history that is aligned to our study of the continents. After students have gained an in-depth understanding of ancient civilizations and their contributions to modern systems, we partner with families to introduce postcolonial history through resistance movements in a way that supports difficult feelings that may arise.