Academic Grades & Programs

A unique facet of a Caedmon education is how we cherish the childhood years.

One of the few academic school programs in New York City to span and celebrate the length of childhood, our program ensures a creative and collaborative approach to academic excellence.

Preschool

The Caedmon School was the first Montessori preschool established in New York City. Our preschool program is for  children 20 months through 4.9 years old and combines the Montessori method of education with other early childhood developmental techniques to foster confidence, creativity, and independence. Our preschool is divided into two classrooms:

Beginners

This class is specifically designed to foster confidence, competence, and independence in first-time school children. Due to the small student-teacher ratio (4:1), teachers are able to provide all the special attention the children of this age need to achieve the goals of the class, and prepare for their subsequent move to the Early Program.

Explore the Beginners Program

Early Program - 3 and 4 years old

Our Early Program classrooms are mixed-age classrooms that provide an authentic Montessori experience for children three and four years-old. In order to provide individual attention, Early Program classes are small by design with a 7.5:1 student-teacher ratio.

During the two-year program, children of different ages are mixed together and remain in the same classroom for both years. Three-year-old children benefit from having older classmates to model, and the following year they are empowered and cement their learning by assisting their younger classmates. This instills in the children a sense of responsibility for each other, as well as for themselves and the classroom.

Explore the Early Preschool Early Program

Elementary School at Caedmon

Kindergarten

Children in Kindergarten continue with elements of Montessori learning, in conjunction with a progressive elementary approach to education. In contrast to the Early Program, children in Kindergarten are the same age. The daily schedule in Kindergarten is divided between open-ended activities, and the directed group instruction that is typical from Kindergarten onward. The children learn to complete assigned tasks within a specific time frame, while enjoying the creative play and exploration that are such important parts of the natural learning process at this age. Our Kindergarten students are offered the following specialist classes: Spanish, Technology, Science. Library, Technology, Art, Violin, Music, P.E., Martial Arts and Swimming. Classroom teachers maintain close communication with the specialist teachers to ensure continuity and connections among the various classes.

Explore More About Kindergarten Classes at Caedmon

Mixed-Age First and Second Grades

First and Second Grades at Caedmon are combined in a mixed-aged program in which children spend two years in the same classroom with the same teacher. They develop their academic and social skills in an environment that is free from competition, rich in intellectual stimulation and academic challenges, and full of emotional support. The children work in small, flexible groups, which allows the teachers to adapt the program to the needs of each child and adjust the grouping as they progress. The children also work in homogeneous groups, benefiting from one another’s strengths and learning styles.

Third and Fourth Grade

In the Third and Fourth Grades, students are thinking about what they are learning in critical and creative ways. Their developing skills begin to have practical applications and the curriculum becomes increasingly integrated.

Third and Fourth Grade students use the library and the internet to do research, collaborate on long-term projects in social studies and writing, and participate in literary discussions and debates. The children are grouped by skill level for reading and mathematics. At other times, such as in social studies, math congresses, or writing workshops, the children meet as a whole group, which allows them to benefit from one another’s strengths and learning preferences. Technology skills are also integrated into many assignments.

Homework becomes more disciplined and challenging in Third and Fourth grade, and includes some long term assignments. Multiple assignments are given each evening, requiring the children to organize their time outside of the classroom, thus beginning to prepare them for the transition to middle school.

Fifth Grade - Upper Level

The Upper Level at Caedmon consists of our “senior” Fifth grade students. They spend the year preparing for the academic and social challenges of middle school, while celebrating the culmination of their Caedmon experience. Academic instruction continues to be individualized and takes into account the learning styles, needs, and strengths of each child.There is a greater emphasis on long-term assignments and collaborative projects, in which the keys to success are time management, study skills, and organization. Graded assignments are introduced in anticipation of the transition to ongoing schools. A grading criteria rubric accompanies these assignments, so that the children understand very clearly what is expected and how to meet their goals.

Fifth Grade is a memorable year at Caedmon. Upper Level students finish the year by performing their musical for the rest of the Elementary Program and for their parents. Each spring, students also travel on an overnight trip to a nearby city of historical interest, or to an upstate nature conservatory to immerse themselves in the natural environment. They use the outdoors and nature to learn about issues of ecology, conservation and the world around us, and the trip acts as a bonding experience in the later part of our year, with an emphasis on connecting nature to our learning and growth.