Wauhatchie Forest SCHOOL K-5

locations

schedule

Monday through fridaY 8:30-3:00        

The day to day schedule varies depending on weather, children’s needs, guest artists or enrichment teachers, and children’s supported interests. The schedule below is our typical guide.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

PHILOSOPHY AND CURRICULUM

Learning Framework Overview: Our learning framework has been lovingly constructed over time, and is a living, moving, and breathing organism. We respect seasonal rhythms, spontaneous teaching moments, child-led discovery, and weather ebb and flow. We work to build a robust balance of structured learning time in all core subjects Math, Literacy, Social Studies, STEAM and Art; as well as a good forest wander and LOTS of healthy playful learning. We are TN standards-aligned, but are not married to them in a particular order, within a specific scope and sequence, or within a rigid structure. We find that one excellent and exciting project can satisfy multiple standards, and are thus never taught in isolation.

Our emergent framework is modeled on best practices within education today, such as: project-based learning, collaborative learning, authentic assessment practices, hands on learning, and Social-Emotional Learning. Our commitment to small teacher-to-child ratios allow our teacher the freedom to individualize lesson plans based on observations, assessments, student curiosity, and need. 

Assessment: Parents will receive holistic progress reports each trimester that will address not only how the students are doing academically, but socially, emotionally and physically as well. Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled at least twice per year and as needed throughout the year. Additionally, we utilize a parent communication app as another source of valuable information into the weekly activities, work, growth and progress of our students.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Children must be able to follow directions carefully, show respect & kindness towards other children and their teachers, follow forest school rules, and be able to communicate effectively. They must follow classroom safety rules and expectations at all times. Children must be completely toilet-proficient (potty trained) in order to attend. They must be able to know when they have to go to the bathroom, be able to communicate that, and independently handle all toileting.

Dressing Appropriately

Appropriate clothing for Forest School is CRITICAL to the success of the program. “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing choices.” An extensive guide on appropriate clothing and gear for forest school is provided in our Parent & Student Handbook, sent to families before the beginning of each school year. Students must arrive dressed properly for each day at forest school!

Family Involvement

Some weekend and community events will be planned at Wauhatchie Forest School or at partner locations to provide a continuation of the Forest School experience for the entire family. We believe “it takes a village” and we prioritize relationships with our parents and caregivers in order to best support our learners and help them grow into engaged, curious, thoughtful, connected, successful citizens of our beautiful world!

Friends of the Forest is our loose forest school equivalent of a parent teacher association and parents will have the opportunity to join to help support the school, plan events, and more.