Academics

Our teachers strive to learn new methods of teaching in our fast-paced, technological times. Classroom teachers, our literacy and math facilitators, and our Talent Development director work as a team to ensure that each student has the right tools to succeed. Our administrators have an open-door policy and encourage dialogue and feedback.

Special Area Classes

Special area classes are an integral part of the learning experience. Students attend one of the special area classes each day during the week. They include:

Chess: Thanks to funding from the PTA, Eastover partners with the Charlotte Chess Center to provide chess instruction to every student, teaching students to apply mathematical concepts and strategy while working with a chess grand master. Eastover is the only school in North Carolina that offers chess to every student in grades K-5 as part of regular classroom instruction.

Art: The art curriculum guides students in learning and using elements and principles of design, thinking critically and creatively, and expressing their own ideas and feelings in original ways. Imagination and concept are emphasized over the final produced work, placing the focus on developing each student’s individual ideas and capabilities. Students use various media, including paint, collage, colored pencils and clay, and they will learn about works of historical importance by artists such as Henri Matisse and Piet Mondrian, and produce their own works in these artists’ styles.

Media: Students enhance their understanding and love of literature through book and author studies. Our library collection includes approximately 5500 books, all updated to the Outstanding Standard set by CMS. Depending on grade level, students learn research skills and digital citizenship, and are allowed time to complete research-based projects. Grades K-2 learn the check-out process and may borrow one book per week, while Grades 3-5 may borrow two books per week.

Physical Education: Students develop the skills necessary to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Over the school year, students work on basic locomotor movements, sport skills and game play. The lessons and teaching are based on the National Association for Sport and Physical Education standards and the NC Essential Standards for Physical Education.

Music: Eastover’s music curriculum offers meaningful and rewarding experiences for students and helps children develop skills and concepts that not only apply within the music classroom but are also complementary to relevant curriculum they are studying outside of music. Students spend time learning the basic elements of music including reading music, rhythm, melody and harmony, expression and timbre. They are exposed to composers, such as Mozart and Liszt, and their most famous works. They also have the opportunity to practice with a variety of instruments and participate in grade level choral performances throughout the year.

Academic Support Team

Eastover is unique in that its PTA funds an Academic Support Team of two certified instructors in addition to all of the Eastover teachers employed through CMS. Our Academic Support Team provides enrichment learning, academic intervention, testing preparation and one-on-one instruction aligned with classroom curriculum to more than 125 Eastover students every week. These teachers work with students one-on-one or in small groups, enabling homeroom teachers to work with smaller, more focused groups, benefiting ALL students. Eastover is the ONLY public school in our area that provides students with this type of weekly, in-school tutoring by credentialed educators, and this program is the most direct way the PTA supports our students’ academic achievement.

Enrichment

Eastover offers a Talent Development curriculum for children identified as high performers during 2nd grade. These students work with the Talent Development teacher on a variety of enrichment projects and assignments throughout the year as a supplement to their in-classroom experience. Additionally, students demonstrating certain academic and leadership qualities are invited to join the National Honor Society. Students also have the opportunity to compete in Battle of the Books, Mathapalooza, and our school spelling bee.

Students across all grades participate in off-campus field trips and in-school enrichment assemblies throughout the year. Field trips might include the Riverbanks Zoo, the Carolina Raptor Center, the Charlotte Children’s Theatre, Discovery Place, the Schiele Museum or JA Biztown. Fifth grade even takes an overnight trip to Charleston! In-school enrichment might include Coldblooded & Bizarre (a visit from a two-headed snake!), inspirational speaker Jim Basketball Jones, or performances by The Charlotte Ballet or Dancing Drummer.