Enrichment Program
Our school day is structured so that the “Core” academics of Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and math are taught in the morning. This allows us to devote our afternoons to our enrichment program which includes the teaching of visual art, music, drama, Spanish and Writer’s Workshop. Each day we also provide a quiet reading time for the children (D.E.A.R.) as well as 30 minutes of P.E.
PE - Students have 30 minutes of PE everyday. Our physical exercise program revolves primarily around “Playing Enthusiastically.” Our goal is to have children experience physical exercise as a positive activity- where they have fun, learn team work and get fit. To this end, we create lessons that teach children physical games and gross motor skills in a supportive environment. We also introduce and help them master a variety of team sports such as baseball, football, basketball and volleyball.
Art - At The Willow School, we know that art enhances learning. As much as possible, the arts are integrated into class themes to enhance the learning of curricular skills and content knowledge. Artistic elements and art history are incorporated as well. Students learn about a specific artist or time period and create art using a variety of medium from drawing, painting to clay and sculpture.
Music - Our music program is designed to introduce children to music as well as foster a love of singing and music.
Drama - Drama is incorporated into daily teaching of curriculum especially in the project component of children’s work and is taught formally as part of our enrichment program. During drama class, the emphasis is on improvisation activities, voice and projection, and skits, sometimes culminating into a play.
Spanish - The Willow School has incorporated the world renowned Rosetta Stone Spanish Program into our enrichment curriculum. Our goal is for Willow students to be proficient in a foreign language upon graduation. This computer based program focuses primarily on speaking and grammar skills and is supplemented by weekly reviews of the language lessons.
Writer’s Workshop - Writer's Workshop is an interdisciplinary writing technique which builds students' fluency in writing through continuous, repeated exposure to the process of writing. This teaching technique invites students to write by making the process a 
meaningful part of the classroom curriculum. Writing is an expected activity at Willow on a daily basis. Students are exposed to the organization and thought required to create a story or write about a favorite topic. Because they are allowed to choose the topic, students are motivated to create and complete works to read to classmates.
This all school writing period is designed to help children realize the joy of the written word. The format includes story planning, revision, teacher editing, and direct instruction in the mechanics of grammar. Each session consists of 45 minutes of quiet writing time about anything of interest to the child. The only requirement is that students express themselves to the best of their ability and try to find joy in that expression. Sessions end with a sharing period for all those who wish to read their writing aloud to the group.
DEAR Time (Drop Everything and Read) - D.E.A.R. time, is a time regularly set aside in the enrichment schedule for both students and their teachers to "drop everything and read.” D.E.A.R. time conveniently accommodates a variety of student interests and ability levels, since each student selects for him or herself the book he or she wishes to read. D.E.A.R. supplements the regular reading program by encouraging independent reading, but it does not replace guided reading. At Willow we schedule it every afternoon for 20 minutes. Students recognize that D.E.A.R. time is a priority and they look forward to this special period. D.E.A.R. time’s main purpose, however, is to get students excited about reading.