Yaxche Curriculum Philosophy
At Yaxche, we provide children with a rich, varied, and accessible learning environment: We present objects and situations that pose thought-provoking questions; we extend concrete experiences through language and nonverbal representations; and we invite children to plan and reflect on their learning. All of this occurs in an atmosphere of trust and open communication.

Throughout the lower school years, we encourage appropriate social interactions, emphasizing negotiation and a problem-solving approach.

Yaxche offers an exceptional nurturing environment for intellectual, emotional, and physical growth. Our school embodies the ideals of progressive education: learning by doing and working cooperatively. We aim to further children's intellectual and spiritual growth, their ability to work with others, and their sense of personal responsibility.

We send students to the middle school who can read, write, and think critically and who can undertake comprehensive research projects. They can express themselves creatively in a number of media. They use math effectively and employ the scientific method. They have learned to set boundaries for themselves as well as to negotiate with others in support of their ideas. Our students leave the lower school feeling excited about learning, with a knowledge of who they are and what they can do and with a clear sense of their responsibility to themselves and to the world around them.

Art K–5
At Yaxche, art is not isolated "busy-work" but is an integral part of a student's learning experience that transcends the art room. We explore art to better understand world cultures as well as our own personal world. Creative thinking, visioning possibilities, and problem solving are just a few of the benefits of our art program.

In addition to learning the basic techniques of art making, students experience a direct, hands-on teaching environment in our studio classrooms. Developmentally appropriate class offerings include printmaking, drawing, design studies, painting, ceramics, and bookmaking.

Our exceptional Artist-in-Residence program engages students with nationally and internationally known professional artists—an opportunity rarely found even at high school or college level.

Our students have a natural excitement for the arts. Many children show an instinctive gift for expression that is uninhibited by thoughts of accuracy but with such wonderful and lively input that the creative spirit of the young artist truly shines through. At Yaxche arts, we strive to honor that creative spirit and the individuality of each student as he or she unfolds through the individually unique, developmental process of art making.

Art is a most personal expression, and clearly, enthusiasm is the light that guides its path.

Language Arts K–5
In the K/1 and 2/3 classes, Yaxche's Mentors guide prereaders and emerging readers who are transitioning into independent reading. Mentors also provide appropriate challenges for those youngest learners who are already competent and eager readers. In the 4/5 classes, Yaxche reading groups are based on interest and reading choice rather than ability. Provided with a range of book options, students form study groups based on their book choices and learn note taking, discussion, and reporting skills as well as the basic rules of grammar and spelling.

Math K–5
Yaxche uses the University of Chicago's Everyday Math curriculum and makes every effort to individualize math instruction. Students are encouraged to work at their own pace, and our small class sizes ensure that each student receives regular and appropriate in-class feedback.

Music K–5
The elementary music course offers students a foundation in and an appreciation for music and performance.  Students participate in beat, pitch, and rhythm exercises that enhance their vocal, listening, and turn-taking abilities.  Movement activities allow students to express their creativity through dance in addition to teaching the power of nonverbal communication.  Students participate in composition, lyric writing, character development, and stage performance to prepare for a culminating performance at the end of the trimester.  In addition to creative expression, students learn a basic foundation of music theory including notation, scales, and the piano keyboard in an effort to explore music as a language. Integrating the academics of music with the participation aspect of performance, this course encourages students to engage both their creative energy and their learned knowledge to possess a well-rounded understanding of and appreciation for music.

Social Studies K–5
Yaxche’s Mentors outdo themselves each year in providing experiential social studies research projects for students. Native American study units, for example, have included exploration of ancient ruins and train travel on a steam locomotive such as the kind that carved through the West. Meanwhile, students study textbooks and the Internet in-depth, learning to take and organize their notes, structure written reports, and deliver effective oral presentations.

Outdoor Ed K–5
Yaxche’s K–5 outdoor education program is designed for students to hike into nature and engage in creative writing, scientific investigation, mathematical configuration, historical exploration, and survival skills. The number of nights spent camping is age appropriate. Nature provides constant delight and wonder to the students, and exploration is endless.

One teacher recounts a camping trip with a group of second and third graders:

We arrive in the Gallina Forest after school, and all students set up tents, mats, and sleeping bags, and make a fire pit. Nature becomes the classroom and is a wonderful place to practice math. Forming small groups, students weigh themselves, using addition skills to reach a group weight, and then gather rocks to make a pile that they think will weigh the same as their group. After forming rock piles, they weigh the rocks and see which group came closest to a correct estimate. For more fun math in nature, we label a pinecone with a 5-cent price tag, then challenge students to collect the most “money,” counting by fives, of course. Later, groups of students find special places in the forest and make gnome/fairy houses. The class tours the homes, and the builders explain the qualities of the houses. We serve a pasta dinner around the campfire, followed by stories and a marshmallow roast.

Spending time in nature challenges the mind, body, and spirit. The student groups develop trust, collaboration skills, and mutual support, which make for a powerful bonding experience.

Spanish K–5
Students have a weekly Spanish course taught by a Spanish-language specialist that emphasizes practice in basic conversational vocabulary. Students also learn to write and correctly spell frequently used terms such as colors, the days of the week, and the months of the year. In-class activities include completing Spanish-language crossword puzzles.