Private Elementary School in Fort Collins, Colorado
During the middle kid years, students at our private elementary school in Fort Collins become responsible, independent citizens as they continue to develop a deeper sense of self, form their own opinions and beliefs, and discover their autonomy. Our curriculum is designed to foster this growth.
In math, students progress through our Rivendell elementary math curriculum, which is based on mastery learning (not grading). Concepts are introduced concretely using manipulatives, either through one-on-one instruction, or in small groups.
Reading in Middle Kids is strengthened through the Reading Workshop model. Children choose books, fiction and nonfiction, which interest them. At this age students continue to work on phonics and decoding skills, while also learning how to think about what they are reading.
In addition to exposure to a wide variety of writing styles, Middle Kids reinforce their own writing skills through regular impromptu writing warm-ups, creative narratives, expository and persuasive paragraphs. Expectations and goals are unique to each student’s level of ability and assessed regularly through student-teacher conferences.
As elementary students this age are able to take more control over their learning, we find that persistence and mastery are important skills that allow them to make steady progress toward achieving their goals.
Rivendell enabled me to chase my dreams by teaching me how to think critically and collaborate with those around me. ~ Nikki, Rivendell Alumna
Frequently Asked Questions
Rivendell School include 2nd and 3rd grade students, which generally corresponds to children 7 to 9 years old.
Readers and Writers Workshop is a core curriculum model used for middle and older students that pairs explicit mini-lessons with daily independent practice, peer sharing, and teacher feedback
Teaching the whole child cannot be captured by data and measurement alone. Teachers, parents, and students set academic and social goals together. Our ongoing assessment centers on mastery learning, which means working on a task until it is truly understood and error-free.
Written assessments replace traditional report cards, and we do not teach to any test. Student progress is communicated through semester conferences, end-of-year reports, and weekly newsletters. Rivendell administers the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment twice yearly to students in grades three through five, with results available within twenty-fourhours. Parent conferences are held in October and January, and report cards are issued in May.
Rivendell School in Fort Collins, Colorado, approaches social-emotional growth and independence through a highly individualized, holistic approach tailored to the child's developmental age. Rather than enforcing top-down discipline, Rivendell integrates the Love and Logic methodology into daily interactions. Teachers preserve student dignity by handling conflicts as teaching moments. They ask guiding questions instead of dictating demands, which shifts the thinking back to the student and empowers them to become independent problem solvers who take natural ownership of their actions.
Yes, students can join the Middle Kids program mid-year at Rivendell School. The school actively welcomes mid-year transfers for families relocating to the area or for students transitioning from other environments. Because Rivendell School uses an individualized, mastery-based learning approach rather than a rigid, one-size-fits-all curriculum, teachers can meet new students exactly where they are academically, regardless of when they enroll during the school year
