Social Curriculum



The Genesee Community Charter School focuses on developing a caring, supportive school community in which students participate fully in solving problems, including problems of behavior. We believe that students' growth toward kindness, respect and critical problem solving depends on becoming active members of a caring community.

In Expeditionary Learning schools, such as GCCS, teaching, learning, and school culture are shaped by ten design principles:

(1) The Primacy of Self Discovery
(2) The Having of Wonderful Ideas
(3) Responsibility for Learning
(4) Empathy and Caring
(5) Success and Failure
(6) Collaboration and Competition
(7) Diversity and Inclusion
(8) The Natural World
(9) Solitude and Reflection
(10) Service and Compassion

We incorporate the language and actions reflected by these principles in our daily work and communications with students, parents, and our colleagues. Students learn to be caring members of their classroom and school community by using these principles to guide their behavior.

The Responsive Classroom approach to classroom management is another important part of our social curriculum. Responsive Classroom strategies foster a learning environment that is safe, challenging, and respectful. We build strong relationships among teachers, children, and their families, which help children feel connected to the community within their classroom and school. Children take an active role in establishing the guidelines for a caring classroom community, and in solving problems when they arise.

Responsive Classroom practices include a daily morning meeting, clear rules and logical consequences, consistent routines and expectations, and strategic classroom organization. The Responsive Classroom approach also guides adults in addressing discipline issues so that we preserve children's dignity and privacy.

For more information on GCCS's Caring Community Plan and our discipline policy, please refer to the GCCS Family Handbook.