Classroom Structure
Bloom Engaged Learning Academy, LLC (BELA) offers a mixed-age level classroom, incorporating children from *kindergarten through 3rd grade levels into 1 cohesive classroom setting. The intention is to continue to expand each year, to eventually grow with students through 12th grade.
"A mixed-age classroom can lead to a deeper understanding of concepts and a stronger sense of community within the classroom."
Mixed-Age Classroom Benefits:
Learning Family: With the reduced competition in comparisons among same age peers, a multi-age classroom fosters a supportive classroom environment.
Peer Mentoring: Older children can help younger children learn concepts they've mastered, allowing for development of leadership skills.
Social and Emotional Development: Interacting with children of different ages promotes development of empathy, cooperation, and communication skills.
Increased Engagement: A variety of learning styles and abilities promotes more dynamic and engaging activities.
Individualized Learning: Teachers can cater instruction to each student's abilities and pace rather than more strict grade-level expectations, allowing for more targeted support.
*Each student applying as a kindergartener is required to complete an informal assessment prior to acceptance into the school. Because of the age span of children in our program, the following criteria must be met by the first day of school:
Identify and label all letters and letter sounds.
Blend simple consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words.
Count to 20.
Demonstrate ability to focus and attend for short periods.
If you don't suspect your child will meet the criteria for entry by September, you may consider enrolling in the transitional kindergarten class with our sister school, Kinder Garden Preschool. If you are unsure whether or not your child may be ready at that time, please feel free to reach out to discuss the requirements and to receive suggestions on how to encourage building these skills.