Seminar Curriculum at Hawthorne
Teaching Philosophy
The Hawthorne Seminar Program teacher believes seminar students are unique in their ability to learn advanced concepts quickly or intuitively with a high degree of complexity and depth. The teacher offers a positive learning environment where students are stretched cognitively, accepted for their individuality, inspired in their creativity, and given opportunities to express their ideas.
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The learning environment is challenging and engaging, and the students’ needs and interests drive instruction. The teacher encourages students to develop their own unique abilities, focusing on their strengths, while making a high degree of academic growth. They understand the power of like-minded peers working together to set goals and advance their knowledge cooperatively.
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The depth and breadth of the curriculum provided by the teacher captures the students’ interest with novelty and higher-level thinking; each student’s innate curiosity is allowed to flourish. Our knowledgeable and practiced teacher is passionate and dedicated to the idea that seminar students need an intellectually enriching environment commensurate to their unique abilities.
Teaching Strategies
Problem solving & logic
Scientific process
Hands-on inquiry
Project-based learning
Accelerated pacing
Depth and complexity
Like-minded peers
Team building strategies
Cognitive challenges
Creativity
Interdisciplinary instruction
Meaningful, real applications
Socratic Seminar
Icons for depth & complexity
Open ended questions
High level questioning techniques
Independent study
Collaborative projects
Leadership opportunities
Technology instruction
Enrichment
The Hawthorne Seminar Foundation supports the Seminar teacher in providing high quality enrichment programs that contribute to the intellectual, emotional, and social development of the children. Enrichment programs are paid for by the Hawthorne Seminar Foundation through annual fundraising and are available to all currently enrolled seminar students. Enrichment programs are always changing and specifically curated for the current student body. Below are examples of current & past programs students have participated in.
Field Trips
Educational field trips have always been an integral part of the Hawthorne Seminar program. Examples of past field trips include Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, BizTown, USD Mathigami lab, San Diego Symphony, Mission Trails, the Getty Museum, L.A. County Museum of Art, and La Brea tarpits.
Martial Arts
Weekly taekwondo instruction is provided as a specialized physical activity during the school day. This skill-based activity develops precision, strategy, and analytical competitive technique. The Seminar students truly enjoy this unique training experience!
Chorus
Every student in the Hawthorne Seminar program participates in our chorus, which has been led by the same professional chorus director for more than a decade. The children learn multi-part harmony, singing ‘a round’, and songs ranging from traditional Latin chorale pieces to catchy Broadway show tunes. The children perform several times per year at various venues, including at senior centers, community events, and on public radio.
Art and Poetry
Students receive lessons in both art and poetry. By engaging in these creative disciplines, students can hone fine motor skills, unlock their imagination, and develop their emotional intelligence. In one of our most recent art projects students created their own interpretations of Van Gogh's Starry Nights.
Math Competitions
Students currently have the option to participate in Noetic math competitions. These experiences benefit students by strengthening problem-solving skills, fostering a love for math, and building confidence through challenging, non-routine problems. It also helps students develop time management skills, reduces test anxiety, and provides national recognition for top performers.
Cursive Writing
Cursive writing is more than just penmanship. It is an integrated skill that enhances cognitive development, motor skills, and literacy. The seamless, flowing motion used to form cursive letters stimulates brain synapses and the synchronization of the hands and eyes. Studies suggest that the practice of cursive writing activates areas of the brain involved in thinking, language, and working memory.
Philanthropy
Education extends far beyond textbooks, which is why philanthropy is woven directly into our curriculum. By participating in hands-on service projects, our students develop a profound sense of civic responsibility and empathy. One example is the classroom’s visits to a local memory care facility. These experiences allow students to see firsthand the impact of their kindness and the value of human connection.
Language
In the past, students were receiving Latin instruction. Fifty percent of English vocabulary is comprised of Latin words and roots, and Latin is the language of law, logic, government, and the sciences. The benefits of learning Latin are numerous, and the students enjoy learning a “dead” language with strong links to English. We hope to bring this back to our curriculum soon.
Theatre
In the past, the Hawthorne Seminar students stage a play or musical, led by a professional theater director. Incorporating theater into the classroom curriculum has been shown to have far-reaching benefits to students, from enhancing reading comprehension and students’ understanding of mathematical and scientific concepts, to improving sensory integration. Recent productions have included “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “A Year With Frog and Toad”, “Seussical, the Musical Jr.” and “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.”