Seminar Curriculum at Hawthorne
Teaching Philosophy
The Hawthorne Seminar Program teachers believe seminar students are unique in their ability to learn advanced concepts quickly or intuitively with a high degree of complexity and depth. The teachers offer 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 teachers encourage the 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 teachers captures the students’ interest with novelty and higher-level thinking; each student’s innate curiosity is allowed to flourish. These knowledgeable and practiced teachers are 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
Simulation games
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
Opportunities for published work
Technology instruction
Enrichment
The Hawthorne Seminar Foundation supports the Seminar teachers 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.
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, the Getty Museum, L.A. County Museum of Art, La Brea tarpits, and SEACAMP San Diego.
Taekwondo
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 from a professional artist and a professional poet. Students are encouraged to enter their work into art and poetry contests, such the Border Voices Student Poetry Contest and the California Coastal Art & Poetry Contest, where Hawthorne Seminar students often win recognition.
Strategic Thinking
iReady/Chess/Simulation Games/Word Games- Students love competition, strategy, and games with complex rules. Learning through game play enhances academic learning and cognitive development. Games require children to think ahead, solve problems, and develop their logic and ability to think creatively. Gifted students enjoy engaging in mentally challenging and strategic games.
Math Competitions
Students currently have to 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.
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.