brainbasedcurriculum.com
What is Brain-Based Learning?
Twelve Principles of brain-based learning are the foundation, the core philosophy upon which Blue Ribbon Results Academy was created. All instructional practices are derived from how God created our brains to think, which is to see the interconnected whole and to process it, so that we may live it out in the world around us. Since Jesus was an effective teacher, Blue Ribbon Results has adopted and implemented the strategies he used to teach his disciples. Hence the entire curriculum is developed, delivered, and evaluated based on the above notions.
To assist the brain with thinking and processing information, Robert J. Marzano's strategies, those which imitate Jesus’ teaching, similarities and differences, cooperative learning, feedback correction, higher level questioning, repetition, and non-linguistic representation are used daily to teach and practice all concepts and skills.
Language Arts: Reading Readiness Students are engaged daily in the five components of reading: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension. Writing Coloring is an essential part of preparing students to write.
Math Readiness: Calendar Math is the preferred instructional tool used to expose students to numbers and number sense, counting forward and backwards, days of the week, months of the year, shapes, colors, geometry, nonstandard and standard measurement, patterns, functions, and algebra, money, probability and statistics, computation, reasoning and word problems. terminology, using technology, learning songs and poems about numbers, solving stories with numbers, writing numbers, counting, creating mind-maps, and using mathematics in many different, real-world situations.
Science Exploration: Our science curriculum provides many opportunities to explore and emphasize the wonders of the Lord’s creation.
Social Science Exploration: Our social science curriculum is intimately connected since humans are the Lord’s greatest creation.
Visual Arts: Instead of teaching art as a separate subject, we integrate artistic activities throughout each day.
Music Appreciation: Music has a big part to play every day in our classroom. Students learn songs for worship and to increase memory of letters, rhymes, numbers and other concepts. The following topics are explored: Music Theory/Literacy, Performance, Music History and Cultural Context, Analysis Evaluation/Critique, and Aesthetics.
Personal and Social Development: Character development happens throughout the day as the children learn to interact with others.
Outside Play: Children engage daily in outdoor play as the weather permits and provided the weather air quality and environmental safety conditions do not pose a threat. Outdoor play is structured for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. solving social problems.
Quiet Time: Quiet time provides some down-time for the students.
Worship: In individual classrooms, each day includes a brief service of worship.
Blue Ribbon Results’ curriculum is aligned with the Virginia Department of Education. Our PreK lesson plans are created with a combination of the knowledge of the standards and principles of brain-based learning. Then, lessons are delivered using Marzano’s brain-friendly strategies. Kindergarten students use SOL lesson plans that are delivered using the brain-based principles and strategies. The curricula standards are as follows:
● Virginia's Early Learning Development Standards (ELDS)
● Kindergarten Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs)
Building Moral Character - Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself
In individual classrooms, each day includes a brief service of worship. Students participate in and learn to pray and memorize the story specific scripture for the month that sets the tone and expectation for the
day. Students focus on one bible story per month as they learn what a righteous character looks like in the eyes of God and how to put those characteristics into practice. Throughout the activities, they work to inspire love for the Lord and one another. Music, art, role play, and non-linguistic representation are the primary strategies used to deliver and reinforce the lessons.
Core Subjects Areas