Elementary K-5
Mead Learning Options offers a various options for elementary students. Depending on whether families wish to have their child learning a structured classroom with a cohort of grade level peers, access some enrichment electives or even learn through outdoor experiences, MLO has opportunities for families to partner with certificated teachers and instructors to learn and grow!
If you are interested in enrollment in any of our elementary programs highlighted below, you may complete the MLO Interest Form to provide contact information for us to connect with you.
For individual program descriptions, please check out our options below by clicking the tabs. If you have any questions about the Mead Learning Options K-5 programs, please call us a 509-465-7700.
Elementary Options at MLO
Cohort K-5 Model
The onsite cohort model at MLO is a partnership program where families are supported as the primary educators. A certificated teacher provides a traditional classroom experience one day per week where students explore, grow, and nurture their lifelong love of learning. Along with the classroom experience, certificated teachers mentor and support parent educators through curriculum resources and provide academic feedback in the content areas of English language arts, math and science. Students may also participate in a variety of enrichment clubs an additional day of the week. Success in our cohort model involves availability of the teaching parent to be at home to teach all content areas.
- Who is a GOOD FIT for our Cohort K-5 Model?
- Role of the Parent as the Primary Educator
- Role of the Mentor Teacher
- Role of the Student
Who is a GOOD FIT for our Cohort K-5 Model?
Students who are BEST served in this classroom-based model:
- Students with parents who provide 80% of essential, focused instruction four days per week.
- Students who benefit from the structure of a classroom.
- Students who do better in a consistent environment with a primary on-site teacher and peer group.
- Students who benefit from a range of differentiation and scaffolding.
- Families who want a strong content focus and feedback on how well your child is meeting grade level standards.
Families best served in the MLO Cohort K-5 program are committed to:
- focused instruction at home three days per week, with an emphasis in ELA and math
- helping your student reach grade level standards
- collaboration with mentor teachers
- encouraging curiosity and an appreciation for learning
- supporting a growth mindset in their student
Role of the Parent as the Primary Educator
Parents as educators are expected to:
- Choose district-approved, “research-based curriculum” based on your family goals and student needs.
- Implement a structured, yet flexible learning schedule in a comfortable home environment.
- Deliver essential instruction in English language arts, math, science and social studies based on priority grade level standards.
- Ensure your student is also getting at least 100 hours of fitness and fine arts experiences each month.
- Evaluate coursework, provide feedback, reteach until mastery is achieved, and provide individualized interventions as needed.
Certificated teachers assigned as mentors or advisors are able to help suggest resources and provide feedback on assessments or grade level standards, as well as advise on possible interventions if your child is struggling.
Role of the Mentor Teacher
- In the MLO Cohort K-5 Model, certificated teachers provide a classroom setting one day each week to help provide group based instruction similar to a traditional classroom, but with smaller class sizes.
- Monitor monthly progress based on grade level priority standards, providing professional guidance and feedback, and interventions when needed, in areas where your student is not achieving grade level standards.
- Provide an awareness of state and district power standards and resources for clear guidance on how to teach to those standards.
- Offer support in selecting appropriate, district approved curriculum and educational materials for use at home.
Families will periodically meet to share out of learning at home, observe and discuss instructional strategies, provide support and encouragement, problem solve any intervention needs.
Role of the Student
Students are the purpose of our community, but they also play an important part in building our community’s culture. We ask four things of our students:
- BE KIND: Everyone who walks through our doors, is expected to always treat others with kindness.
- GRIT: Give your best effort. We don’t expect students to be perfect or have all the right answers. But we do expect students to try their best in everything we ask them to do while in class onsite.
- BE RESPECTFUL: Respond quickly to adult requests for cooperation and participation. If any adult in our programs asks any student to cooperate, we need to know you will follow directions quickly and without argument.
- BE RESPONSIBLE: Have respect for our MLO space as well as the belongings and personal space of others in our learning community. Keep track of belongings, clean up afterwards and help beautify our surroundings.
Clubs Model
Mead Learning Options Clubs value parents as the primary educators. Parents are mentored by certificate teachers and the school provides personalized curriculum materials, offers extra-curricular enrichment and access to academic support clubs.
Clubs are year-long "enrichment activities" supervised by club advisors. These are not full courses, are not held for 5 hours per week, and do not accrue grades. Due to the flexible nature of alternative education, they are offered at times convenient for all, rather than from 3:30-5:30. These clubs are tied to each student's WSLP coursework and as such, these are NOT ancillary services as defined in RCW 28A.150.350, WAC 392-134. Every student needs to take at least one "cert club" (shaded as a blue square on the club schedule. This provides weekly contact with a certified teacher, for students, as required by law) Club registration for 26-27 school year is to be announced.
Individual clubs which do not enroll at least 5 students will be cancelled. The schedule is very large and is best viewed online. Please explore the clubs your student(s) might enjoy and check for any needs, expectations or prerequisites for clubs.
Every student needs to take at least one "cert club" (shaded as a blue square on the club schedule. This provides weekly contact.)
Role of the Parent as Primary Educator
Role of Mentor Teacher
Role of the Student
Students are the purpose of our community, but they also play an important part in building our community’s culture. We ask four things of our students:
- BE KIND: Everyone who walks through our doors, is expected to always treat others with kindness.
- GRIT: Give your best effort. We don’t expect students to be perfect or have all the right answers. But we do expect students to try their best in everything we ask them to do while in class onsite.
- BE RESPECTFUL: Respond quickly to adult requests for cooperation and participation. If any adult in our programs asks any student to cooperate, we need to know you will follow directions quickly and without argument.
- BE RESPONSIBLE: Have respect for our MLO space as well as the belongings and personal space of others in our learning community. Keep track of belongings, clean up afterwards and help beautify our surroundings.
Outdoor School
Mead Outdoor School (MOS) is a partnership program serving students in Grades K-8 where parents and certificated teachers share responsibility for a well-balanced education. Teachers provide rich outdoor experiences in science, social studies, and enrichment connections in other content areas 2 days a week at Camp Dart-Lo. Parents provide focused instruction in reading, writing, math and support for science and social studies throughout the week at home. Success at MOS involves the availability of the teaching parent to be at home to teach.
The MOS school day takes place at Camp Dart-Lo which has 51 acres of natural habitat nestled along the Little Spokane River. This environment is rich in diverse ecology and history. Students at MOS spend the majority of their school days immersed in the outdoors - reading under the trees, conducting science experiments using place-based learning, and writing journal entries that exemplify their interdisciplinary learning experiences.
- Who is a GOOD FIT for Outdoor School
- Role of the Parent as the Primary Educator
- Role of the Mentor Teacher
- Role of the Student
Who is a GOOD FIT for Outdoor School
Students who are best served in our Mead Outdoor School (MOS) will:
- Participate joyfully in the outdoors in all kinds of weather.
- Benefit from project and place-based learning.
- Embrace choice in learning activities.
- Respond well to mixed-age groupings.
- Collaborate and cooperate.
- Receive strong math and ELA instruction at home.
Families best served at MOS are committed to:
- focused instruction at home throughout the week, specifically in language arts and math
- helping your student reach grade level standards
- collaboration with mentor teachers
- encouraging curiosity and an appreciation for nature
- supporting a growing stewardship and leadership mindset in their student
Due to safety concerns in the outdoors, students who struggle with defiance, aggression, and/or leaving a classroom setting without permission may not be a good fit for this program.
Role of the Parent as the Primary Educator
Parents as educators are expected to:
- Choose your own district-approved “research based curriculum” based on your family goals and student needs.
- Implement a flexible learning schedule in a comfortable home environment.
- Deliver essential ELA and math instruction at home and support student learning in science and social studies with materials provided by the teacher.
- Help your child achieve grade level benchmarks.
- Evaluate coursework, provide feedback, reteach until mastery is achieved, and provide individualized interventions as needed.
Role of the Mentor Teacher
Certificated teachers are supported by program advisors to provide learning instruction at MOS. Staff are chosen for their knowledge of and passion about their subject and learning in the outdoors, their experience with alternative education, their ability to serve mixed-age groups with flexibility and warmth, their support for families, and their ability to provide highly engaging instruction.
- Monitor monthly progress based on grade level power standards, providing professional guidance, feedback, and interventions when needed, in areas where your student is not achieving grade level standards.
- Provide an awareness of state power standards and resources for clear guidance on how to teach to those standards.
- Offer support in selecting appropriate, district-approved curriculum and educational materials.
Role of the Student
Students are the purpose of our community, but they also play an important part in building our community’s culture. These four simple guidelines help create a harmonious learning environment for all our students:
- BE KIND: Everyone who comes onto our location is expected to always treat others with kindness.
- GRIT: Give your best effort. We don’t expect students to be perfect or have all the right answers. But we do expect students to try their best in everything we ask them to do while in class onsite.
- BE RESPECTFUL: Respond quickly to adult requests for cooperation, participation and to make safe choices in our unique outdoor space. If any adult in our program asks a student to cooperate, we need to know they will follow directions quickly and without debate.
- BE RESPONSIBLE: Have respect for our outdoor space as well as the belongings and personal space of others in our learning community. Keep track of belongings, clean up afterwards and help beautify our surroundings.