Our teachers are trained in The Multisensory Math Program © by Marilyn Zecher instruction and complete ongoing professional development to remain current with the latest research.

Our teachers utilize the Concrete, Representational and Abstract (CRA) instructional approach to design and deliver instruction.  We incorporate the use of manipulatives and integrate technology to enhance academic achievement. All levels of the K-8 curriculum are available, including Pre-Algebra and Algebra I. Emphasis is placed on the application of math skills to real life.

Special guests such as the local 4H Club, an amateur astronomer and a paleontologist frequently visit the classroom, and relevant field trips are part of the curriculum as well.

Annual projects include chick hatching, trout in the classroom, and our yearly science fair, at which students’ experiments are displayed on a science board that includes the scientific method. Family Science Night and Star Parties are held throughout the year for parents and students.

Students are engaged in multi-sensory lessons that help them grasp important concepts and make real-world connections.

Technology and educational videos are infused into the lessons along with hands-on projects to reinforce a student’s ability to understand history and its implications.

Students learn firsthand about the election process, giving back to the community, planning activities, leadership skills, and what it takes to make important democratic decisions through our Student Council.

Studies show that increasing one’s heart rate through exercise and keeping it elevated for 20 minutes or more at least three times a week increases one’s lifespan as well as their quality of life. Our mission is to get our students moving in many different enjoyable ways through sports and games incorporating both anaerobic and aerobic activities.  Our Physical Education program is developmental in nature, and helps students to develop the skills they need to participate in recreation and sports activities, both individual, lifetime sports and group sport activities. Health classes are geared to inspire our students to not only exercise during Physical Education but to understand why they need to exercise and develop healthy lifestyle choices toward lifelong wellness.

Banyan elementary school offers a life skills curriculum to its eighth grade students.

Some examples of activities in which students are able to practice real life skills are ordering from a restaurant, making a shopping list, preparing a meal, and shopping for a gift for a friend. Students are able to experience real life activities and learn the skills needed to plan, execute, and complete a task.

The speech department collaborates with teachers, administrators, and parents to generalize speech and language goals outside of the therapy room. Social language skills programs are run daily during lunch by the speech and counseling department. Students are taught a variety of social skills targeting perspective taking, conversational skills, friendship, problem-solving, and overall social competence. The speech department also uses a variety of highly specialized programs, including Social Thinking®, HearBuilders®, and VoicePro®, to supplement speech instruction. In addition to providing therapy to meet students’ speech and language goals, our mission is to ensure that each child develops speech and language skills to facilitate personal, social, and intellectual growth inside and outside of the classroom.

This award-winning, project-based program develops cognitive, physical and occupational skills while stimulating creativity, imagination, focus, and problem solving.

• Tabletop Woodworking Stations
• Learning Hand Tools
• Project Planning and Step by Step Instructions
• Support and Advice

Not only does this foster school wide spirit, it gives students the opportunity to improve their language skills, practice their social skills and boost their overall confidence. The Banyan Bulldog Cheerleaders practice once weekly during the school day throughout basketball season and perform at both home and away games. All students are welcome to join our cheerleading squad. We love to see our students shine!