At Challenger, we engage preschoolers in activities that help them develop physical abilities like hand-eye coordination and dexterity as well as self-management skills like focus and independence. These skills and aptitudes also have an important impact on their academic development by, for example, preparing their muscles for writing and their minds for reading. You can help at home by challenging your child to button a shirt, set the table, sort laundry, or cut a shape out of a piece of paper. https://www.challengerschool.com/grade/preschool #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Today and Friday, on-campus preschool and kindergarten students are learning about the Old West at our Western Day event. Students may wear bandannas and cowboy hats while they sing campfire songs, learn real cowboy stories, and have a whole lot of boot-scootin’ fun! (photos taken prior to 2020) https://www.challengerschool.com/newsroom/western-days #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
We are excited to welcome kindergarten through grade five students back to our campuses in Santa Clara County (CA)! As of September 22, the county has met the Health Department’s criterion for reopening classrooms. Students are reuniting with their friends and teachers and reaping the benefits of in-person instruction. We are hopeful that middle school students will be able to return to on-campus classes soon as well. Welcome back! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Happy first day of fall from Challenger School! (photo taken prior to 2020) #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
How do you take time for physical play with your child at home? Your child would love to bounce a ball to you, race you up the stairs, or balance on a stripe in a parking lot or on a sidewalk. What fun activities do you and your child participate in together? (photo taken prior to 2020) #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
In Patriot Day and Constitution Day commemorations this week, Challenger students will remember those who were lost in the attacks on America on September 11, 2001, and also celebrate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Our purpose is to impart to students an understanding of their American heritage and the importance of the Constitution. (photo taken prior to 2020) Read more in our article “Why We Celebrate Constitution Day at Challenger School.” https://www.challengerschool.com/newsroom/why-we-celebrate-constitution-day-challenger-school #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Challenger congratulates five Challenger graduates from the class of 2020 who were recognized recently as Anthem Essay Contest finalists: Anji A. of Everest (ID), Paula L. of Lone Mountain and Sofee R. of Silverado (both NV), and Aswin S. of Berryessa and Meghana S. of Strawberry Park (both CA). The Ayn Rand Institute received thousands of entries from countries around the world, so to have been named to the top 50 is an impressive accomplishment for each of these students! Congratulations also to the Challenger instructors who helped their students develop such remarkable understanding of the novel. #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
In Challenger geography classes, students apply the logic of cause and effect to discover how geographical features of a region shape the culture of an area and affect how people live. The in-class discussions help students recognize WHY things happen instead of just memorizing facts. This helps students become effective learners. Read more about Challenger’s proven curriculum on our website. http://ow.ly/kz0r50BMtda #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
In math classes, Challenger kindergartners are learning skip counting (counting forwards and backwards by 5s, for example), using tally marks, and determining the value of a group of coins. As they progress from fundamental to complex mathematical concepts, they radiate confidence! Explore our exceptional kindergarten curriculum on our website. http://ow.ly/ZpiK50BMt42 (photo taken prior to 2020) #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Challenger students are thriving on campus! As we are again able to interact with students in person, we are seeing firsthand the effectiveness of our methods and techniques. Additionally, social skills are improving as students connect and play with their classmates and participate together in the joy of learning! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Preschoolers have been studying the five senses, and they’ve learned that their noses help their tongues to taste. At home, ask them to identify foods that feel cold, smooth, hot, or crunchy and those that taste sweet, salty, bitter, spicy—or just plain yummy! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Congratulations to Aarav G. of Challenger’s Sunnyvale (CA) campus, who recently received a Wells Fargo Community Innovation Award at the Arizona State University Sustainability Fair. Of the 618 submissions from 43 states and 4 nations, only 24 middle and high school science projects were singled out for special honors and cash awards. Nice work, Aarav! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
It’s a new month, and that means a new issue of the Challenger News. Visit our website to read our November newsletter. #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
https://www.challengerschool.com/newsroom/november-2020-challenger-school-newsletter
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.” On Election Day, we celebrate individual rights and recognize the importance of electing representatives who respect those rights and work to secure them. #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Happy Halloween from Challenger School! Did you know? Hundreds of years ago, people in Ireland and England carved out potatoes, turnips, and beets and put candles inside them to scare away evil spirits. Now we have jack-o’-lanterns! Superstitions are an interesting part of Halloween storytelling, but to us, Halloween is just plain fun! Tag us in your photos of Challenger students in Halloween costumes—we’d love to see them! (photos taken prior to 2020) #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Challenger teachers and staff love to get in on the Halloween fun. In years past, some have even dressed up as our “famous” Challenger phonics friends! https://learningcrew.org/ #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
When Challenger teachers are in the same room with their students, they are able to ask probing why and how questions, listen carefully to student answers, and observe expressions and body language. This helps teachers to know when to adjust the lessons and better assess if students can apply the concepts independently and correctly. #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Preschoolers—and older children, too—love to draw! At first, it may be hard for a child to draw a strong, confident line, but as she practices, the more her small muscles and visual perceptions develop so she can better recreate on paper what she sees in her mind. Encourage your child’s inner artist! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
At Challenger, we encourage students to understand self-ownership. They build confidence in the strength of their own minds and their ability to live successfully and happily as they discover what they can do for themselves. Our teachers nurture independence, beginning with the first moments each child steps into the classroom. Read more in the article “Management by Freedom” on our website. http://ow.ly/Dx2650CX2xI #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
We often receive wonderful messages from parents and students who have benefited from the Challenger experience. Read a sampling on the Testimonials page of our website. https://www.challengerschool.com/testimonials Feel free to share your own, and tell your friends what makes Challenger an investment with a lifetime of returns! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
New year, new things happening at Challenger School! Stay up to date by reading our January newsletter, which is available on the News and Events page of our website. https://www.challengerschool.com/newsroom/january-2021-challenger-newsletter #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
As 2020 draws to a close, we’re looking forward to the fun, learning, and achievement that 2021 will hold. Happy New Year! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
In Challenger kindergarten classes, students build on the basic phonics concepts they learn as preschoolers and become adept at deconstructing words with two vowels and irregular vowel combinations that don’t follow typical phonics rules. By the end of our impressive kindergarten program, students are able to use what they’ve learned to read even complex words! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool
Merry Christmas from all of us at Challenger School! #challengerschool #challengerthatsmyschool