The staff, students, and parents of Ravenswood School are committed to an educational process that meets the unique, creative, intellectual, social, physical, and emotional needs of all Ravenswood students.

Language Arts.  The Ravenswood School Reading/Literacy & Language Arts curriculum is built on an integrated system encompassing and developing enriched literacy, reading, writing, vocabulary, and processing skills.  At its focus, the Ravenswood School academic programming applies Child-Centered Best Practice Principles and supports excellent Balanced Literacy Programs including Guided Reading and Writer's Workshop in language arts and across the board.  In addition, our curricula and language arts' focus supports Differentiated Instruction, and uses flexible grouping to further enhance our child-centered practices.  These programs give Ravenswood students the freedom, encouragement, opportunities, and tools they need to clearly express novel ideas and opinions.  Ravenswood students develop strong comprehension and fluency skills as they learn to understand the world in which they live.  During writing instruction, students work through the writing process by drafting, revising, and editing their work.  Throughout the year, students develop skills in peer-revising and peer-editing to help one another improve.  Students are also given opportunities to work collaboratvely to create written pieces.  The specialized knowledge Ravenswood students acquire through our integrated, child-centered language arts program leads to heightened levels of comprehension and evaluation skills in other key subject areas such as math, social studies and science.

Science.  Ravenswood School offers rigorous, differentiated science instruction that incorporates technology throughout the program.  We use the Ravenswood School offers rigorous, differentiated science instruction that incorporates technology throughout the program.  We use the University of Chicago's Chicago Mathematics and Science Initiative (CMSI) supported curricula and we take part in a city-wide plan to dramatically increase student achievement and high-quality teaching in the subjects of math and science. Ravenswood also integrates an Inquiry Based Experiential Science Curriculum (IES) in which our students are encouraged to explore the world around them and apply what they learn to solve real-world problems and issues.  Our science lab was built with this hands-on, real-world curricula in mind and our vision is to expand the program to include Science Discovery Centers for use in the primary grades.  Ravenswood School also enjoys a continued partnership with DePaul University science professors and teacher interns in a program developed to enrich science education for our students.  We use the inquiry-based Full Option Science System (FOSS) and issue-oriented SEPUP Science Kits as important tools in our science curricula.

Math.  Ravenswood School has adopted Everyday Math, The Chicago Math and Science Initiative (CMSI) program for grades PreK - 5th.  This specialized curriculum offers Ravenswood students thought provoking challenges and real world, problem-solving approaches to mathematics based on everyday situations and teaches math concepts through age-appropriate learning activities. Highlights of the program include basic number facts, reinforcing arithmetic skills, and underpinning algebra concepts. Communication skills are essential components of the program and are developed through class discussion and written exercises.  For our middle school, grades 6th - 8th, we've adopted CMSI's MATH Thematics, a program that presents mathematics in relevant and meaningful contexts and focused themes.  This instructional approach engages students in doing mathematics in a variety of settings and encourages active learning.  Students work both independently and in cooperative groups to investigate mathematics and solve real-life problems.  We are also in the planning stages of developing a Certified Algebra Option for 8th graders, for advanced high school placement.

Social Studies.  The social studies curriculum builds disciplinary knowledge and critical thinking skills, and nurtures a commitment to democratic values and citizenship.  Daily activities and interactions aspire to extend the learning experience beyond the walls of the classroom.  Simulations, debates and dramatic role-playing are utilized to help students visualize historic periods and situations.  Multiple field trips are taken throughout the school year to complement students’ learning experiences and we have sustained a very close and long lasting relationship with the Chicago History Museum.  Organizing and grouping students for learning is another key component of the social studies program.  Cooperative learning groups are established to satisfy the social and intellectual needs of young adolescents.  These groupings promote interdependent learning by establishing conditions that require small groups of students to work productively and positively together, face to face, sharing individual responsibility for a group project.  At various junctures in the school year, teacher partner teams are formed to implement Interdisciplinary Units and integrate the curriculum throughout social studies, language arts, science, math, art, music and physical education.  The social studies program also incorporates and integrates technology into its curriculum.  Through classroom newsletters and DVDs parents are kept continually informed.

Language Stars  Spanish Program.  Foreign language study opens our students' minds and world.  Ravenswood School, through our Youth Guidance partnership, offers Language Stars Spanish in our after school programming for students in Pre-K - 5th grade.  Please see our Before & After School page for detailed information.  Ravenswood School believes that learning Spanish will help to prepare our students today to become powerful influences in our community tomorrow.  In addition, Ravenswood School offers many cultural arts opportunities for our students: trips to museums, guest artists, dancers, and musicians expose Ravenswood students to the rich cultural heritage of our world.

The Fine & Performing Arts.  Fine arts play an important role at Ravenswood School and are infused into nearly every curriculum area.  Here at Ravenswood,  Arts Intergration is a top priority as evidenced by our Fine & Performing Arts Magnet Cluster Status.  We have outstanding educators for both visual arts and music.  Both Mrs. Barbara Joseph and Ms. Catherine "Kitty" Conde have brought rich fine arts instruction to our students.  Barbara Joseph is a Golden Apple Award Winner and Kitty Conde has been named Illinois Art Educator of the Year and is Nationally Board Certified.  They are recognized experts in their professions.  Along with their own programs including multi media arts, painting, ceramics, mosaics, murals, film making, computer animation, clay animation, choir, drumming, and musical theater productions, our fine arts workshops and clubs include the Old Town School of Folk Music's 'Global & World Music Programs', the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 'Opera in the Classroom', and the Lakeview Arts Partnership to further integrate theater, dance, visual arts, music and language arts throughout the Ravenswood curriculum. Emerald City Theatre Company offers after-school activities, workshops and classes as well.  Ravenswood School has also received an Every Art, Every Child (EAEC)  grant.  EAEC is a four-year project that develops a comprehensive and sequential arts curriculum for all grades in music, dance, theater and visual art. Our students' art, music, drama  and performance skills are showcased throughout the year in the Ravenswood Art Walk, Talent Show, Choir, Winter and Spring Assemblies, as well as displays and exhibits throughout the school, plus so much more.

Library / Media / Technology.  Our state-of-the-art Library/Media Tech Center with over 13,000 books (and growing), is also home to 30 high-speed internet computer workstations.  Secondary students learn internet based keyword searching skills, project research and documentation, report and bibliography writing, as well as computer based, visual presentation skills.  Other sections of the library afford students the freedom to explore within a range of age-appropriate books and materials: primary students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade visit the 'Enchanted Learning' section filled with large picture books, a puppet stage, creative art space with art easel, story-telling space, colorful walls and more.  Secondary students in 4th through 8th grade visit the 'Educational Site' section which also includes age-appropriate reading materials as well as research and reference materials, chapter books, our Spanish book collection, and Audio/Visual equipment including books on CD and dual projection screens.  In addition to our Library Media Lab, each Ravenswood classroom is equipped with high-speed internet connections and, at minimum, five multi-media computers.

Special Education.  Special Education at Ravenswood is about Child-Centered Best Practice Principles in instruction with the goal being to help all students access their general education curriculum.  Special education does not look different than general education; Teachers follow the same curriculum.  Additionally though, students are provided extra support and organizational assistance - scaffolded instruction - to help them overcome any special needs they may have. Teachers provide instruction through a variety of modes including visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic approaches.  We implement the Least Restrictive Environment setting type where a student’s needs, depending upon disability type and other factors, are best met.  We support the School Based Problem Solving approach wherein Ravenswood teachers and staff work as a team to identify students in the general population who may be struggling with their work.  The team identifies the main area of need and then creates and initiates a plan to help remediate the problems the student is having.  This process prevents students from being labeled unnecessarily while also providing them the support they need to be successful. 

English Language Learners (ELLs).  The Chicago Public School System offers support to students who are English second language learners through bilingual programs sponsored by the Office of Language and Cultural Education.  All families who enter the Chicago Public School System fill out a home language survey indicating the presence of a language other than English in their home. If there is one, students are required to take an English language proficiency test. This determines whether or not they require assistance from a bilingual program.  The English as a Second Language program is responsible for meeting the needs of second language learners. In an immersion setting, newcomers and/or more adept English language learners (ELLs) also work to acquire total English language proficiency.

Field Trips.  Ravenswood School's curriculum is enriched through community field trips.  Ravenswood students thrive in a child-centered climate in which they have an opportunity to discover the world around them.  There have been over 25 Student Field Trips this year including The Museum of Science & Industry, The Adler Planetarium, Community Theaters, Chicago History Museum, Outdoor Pumpkin Patches, Kohl's Children's Museum, North Park Nature Preserve, Hoy Newspaper, Creative Reuse and Recycling Center, Lincoln Park Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, Chicago District Court, The Notebaert Nature Museum, Navy Pier, Brookfield Zoo, Steppenwolf Theatre, plus many, many more.

The basis of our curriculum is the Illinois Learning Standards and Frameworks.  You may review the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) site for detailed goals and objectives for each subject area as well as descriptors for each grade level.


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