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Mathematics
Mathematics: Math is seen as another language. We could call the subject “numeracy” in keeping with “literacy”, which may more accurately reflect our understanding of the subject. Children need practice in mathematics in order to build confidence, and they often do best when the approach to the subject allows them to grow their sense of number over time. A “spiral curriculum”, one that keeps returning to certain basic concepts while at the same time pushing outward, meets the needs of most children. We work with math standards established by the National Council of Mathematics and draw our resources from the Miquon Math Program, Bridges Mathematics Curriculum, Math Their Way and Marilyn Burns material.
Sources that Inform Our Curriculum
The Curriculum in Action:
Students Write about Time
Faculty
Teaching at Lake and Park is collaborative as themes are shared across the grades and among the teachers. We believe that children benefit from learning art (and sports and music) from a teacher whom they also learn to read and write and do mathematics with; each teacher operates as a generalist. Because there is a strong multi-age component to each school day, each child is known and supported by the entire faculty.
Quynh Cao
Quynh Cao teaches the children in the North Room. Cao received a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Texas A & M. She also holds a degree from Del Mar College in Digital Media. She joined our faculty in September of 2013, having taught in the Texas public schools before moving to Seattle. Cao serves as the school's registrar.
Camille Hayward
Camille Hayward is a graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in English and Elementary Education. Before founding the school is 2003, she taught at various independent schools in the Seattle area. As well as being Head of School, she continues as a teacher working in the Beginning Room.
Eileen Hynes
Eileen Hynes holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Bank Street College, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from Kenyon College. Hynes is the Director of Thematic Studies and the Admissions Director. Nationally Board Certified in 2006, Hynes is a National Geographic Teacher Fellow and a NOAA Climate Steward. She was named the Seattle World Affairs Council World Educator in 2016.
She has been a faculty member since 2011.
Kieran McElvaney
Kieran McElvaney teaches in the Big Room. He holds a Bachelor degree in Early Elementary Education from Georgia
State University. Certified in Special Education, McElvaney taught in Fulton County Schools in Atlanta prior to his move to Seattle.
Kieran has experience working with children with sensory needs.
Kim Martinson
Kim Martinson holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and the Teaching of Social Studies from Western Washington University. She joined the Lake and Park faculty in 2015.
Thomas Bain
Thomas Bain serves as an academic tutor, working with children across the grades. Bain holds a B. A. a in Literature/ Cultural Studies from the Evergreen State College. His prior experience includes assistant teaching at The Northwest Montessori School and the Bush School.
Marian Sheehan
Marian Sheehan holds a PhD from the University of Minnesota in Speech-Language Pathology. She works throughout the school as an academic support specialist. Sheehan joined the faculty at Lake and Park in 2015.
Emma Hayes
Emma Hayes joins the Lake and Park School for the 2022-23 school year. With a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Washington she is currently working toward completion of the Masters in Teaching.
She is both the main teacher in the After Care program, and part of the Very Beginning and Beginning Team. She joins the youngest class on weekly forays outdoors, provides small group support in academic and project work and can be seen leading the whole school in singing at All School meetings,
Hayes' background includes providing guitar lessons to children.