Lower School (K-4) | Lower School (K-4) - Open Window School School - Bellevue, Washington

Lower School (K-4)

LOWER SCHOOL AT OPEN WINDOW

In small, vibrant classrooms led by teachers who really "get" gifted kids, students build a strong foundation in their academic and social lives. 

Students in class

ENCOURAGING BIG IDEAS AND BIG QUESTIONS 

Gifted sounds like “why?”

Students working together in class

Gifted sounds like "what if?"

Students inspecting a plant

Gifted feels like going deeper

Students working on laptop

Gifted sounds like noticing patterns

Students working on laptop

Head

ADVANCED, 
NOT RUSHED

In lower school, gifted learners build strong foundations in reading, writing, math, and social studies through learning that goes deeper. Instruction is typically one year accelerated, with a focus on conceptual understanding, inquiry, and creative problem solving.

Students explore big questions, share their thinking, and connect ideas across subjects, supported by teachers who get gifted learners.

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Heart

KNOWN AND 
SUPPORTED

Gifted children often grow asynchronously, advanced in some areas while still developing in others. We honor that complexity with social-emotional learning woven into every day.

Students practice communication, self-regulation, and empathy in a warm classroom community, supported by homeroom teachers, our Lower School counselor, and a student support team that partners closely with families.

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Both Together

WHOLE-CHILD 
GROWTH

At Open Window, challenge and care go hand in hand. Alongside core academics, students learn with specialist teachers in art, drama, music, science, Spanish, library, PE, and technology and innovation. 

These experiences help students take creative risks, collaborate, and discover new strengths. They grow into curious, confident learners who feel ready for what comes next.

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Students going over work together
ThinkingBelongingExploring

DEEP LEARNING

Gifted learners build strong foundations through inquiry and conceptual understanding, with learning that is often advanced and always focused on depth.

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KNOWN & SUPPORTED

Social-emotional learning is woven into each day, helping students practice empathy, communication, and self-regulation in a warm, steady classroom community.

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LEARNING BEYOND CAMPUS

Field trips and hallmark trips - our signature overnight experiences starting in second grade - connect classroom learning to the wider world and build independence and teamwork.

Experiential Learning

One Year Ahead 

 

Instruction is typically one year accelerated. Gifted kids pick up on concepts quickly, so our teachers have plenty of time to go deep and inspire curiosity. This means more hands-on work, building understanding that’s meaningful.

Two Teachers in each Room

 

With two educators in the room, students get support right when they need it. Teachers can run small groups while also staying attentive to social and emotional needs throughout the day.

Small Class Size

 

In small classrooms, teachers get to know students well and can respond quickly. Students practice listening, taking turns, and sharing ideas in ways that build trust and make it easier to learn together.

SEL Woven in

 

Social-emotional learning shows up all day. Students practice naming feelings, handling conflict, and recovering after mistakes, with guidance from teachers and our Lower School counselor as they build confidence and independence.

TEACHERS WHO GET GIFTED KIDS

Faculty and Staff

This is the place where students can really be curious and creative, take risks and try new things. And that definitely applies to teachers as well.

For a lot of our students, this is the first place where they've felt truly understood by their peers.

Our students come in caring about the world, and we get to help them figure out what to do about it.

Students building figure#
     
BUDDY PROGRAMHALLMARK TRIPSSPECIALIST CLASSESMORNING MEETINGOUTDOOR PLAYHANDS-ON PROJECTS
Students working on tablet for project

ACCELERATED WITHOUT BEING RUSHED

Our Lower School academics emphasize:

  • One year ahead pacing in key areas

  • Conceptual understanding over memorizing

  • Problem solving with multiple strategies

  • Discussion, writing, and reflection

Students move forward because they understand what they are doing, not because they are speeding through.

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Student working on craft project

SPECIALIST CLASSES ARE CORE

Each week, students take specialist classes alongside core classes in reading, writing, and mathematics:

  • Art

  • Drama

  • Library

  • Music

  • Physical Education

  • Science

  • Spanish

  • Technology & Innovation

These classes add range to the week and give students more ways to build skills, collaborate, and feel confident in who they are.

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Student working on paper

HIGH CHALLENGE WITH HIGH SUPPORT

Gifted learners often show:

  • Strengths that vary by subject

  • Uneven development across skills

  • Fast understanding, then a need for support

  • High standards for themselves

Teachers plan with this in mind, so students get high challenge and high support at the same time.

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Teacher showing student a book

KIDS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

That means giving students:

  • Real questions to investigate

  • Time to go deeper

  • Tools to test ideas

  • Chances to revise and reflect

Their thinking drives the work, and teachers help them push it further.

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ACADEMICS

Instruction is typically one year accelerated, with time to go deeper. Students build strong foundations through meaningful work across subjects.

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KINDERGARTEN

With two educators in the room, Kindergarteners get support right when they need it. The day blends foundational skills, choice time, and outdoor play in a caring community.

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SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Gifted learners can have big feelings and sharp perception. SEL is woven into the day, helping students build friendship skills, self-regulation, and confidence to take risks in learning.

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