Overview

North Fork classes replace selected courses in students' public school schedules, offering increased academic, college-prep challenge. Students attend North Fork in mixed-age groups, regardless of their public school grade level, and continue through the six (or seven) year curriculum with one teacher to guide their studies in that subject.

History and English are fully integrated in the first three years: those programs include art, drama, and French as part of the integrated Core Curricula.

High School classes also follow a coordinated path (American Literature during the AP US History year, for instance), but the necessary focus on college-prep material allows high school students to select individual courses rather than the fully-integrated middle school curriculum at North Fork.

“The North Fork School encouraged my children to strive beyond what they thought was possible.

They were taught to value being smart – to embrace knowledge, history, philosophy – to hone one’s intellect and have a passion for discourse and critical thinking. I’m still amazed when people comment on my kids’ interests and vocabulary.

We loved the strong role models that the teachers provided. And of course – like in any endeavor – the younger one starts, the easier it becomes and the further one goes.”

— Ana Egnew, parent of Gerrit '12 and Kathryn, '14

How are North Fork classes different than those at students' public, private, or home schools?

At North Fork, students "link" ideas across Core Curriculum years as they continuously develop their skills. This result is not possible in separate classes, taught by different teachers, all choosing their own curricula and focus. It is the vertical integration of all readings, assignments, and classwork as well as teachers' intimate knowledge of student strengths and weaknesses over the course of six years that create the success of North Fork School curricula.

Select button above to see how North Fork Writing Workshop and Core Curricula Programs flow through grades 3-9

Select button below to see how North Fork High school classes flow through grades 9-12

Writing Workshop + Humanities = 1st Year

Cross-curricular writing projects

In Writing Workshop, students offer one another editing advice as they learn to draft and revise every piece of their writing within a supportive, guided writers' circle.

Classes follow a Writing Workshop format, focused on process rather than product.  Students receive a binder “portfolio” for the class, in which all math, drama, mythology, and science projects, as well as artworks and written pieces, will be indexed. Student portfolios are a key component of documenting student achievement.

A low student/teacher ratio, an emphasis on writing in all subject areas, the freedom to explore individual student interests, an ability to study elements of short stories in depth, and the opportunity to learn from the differing perspectives of students in other grade levels all make this program different from the conventional classroom.

Details: Grades 3-6
Mondays and Wednesdays 8:00-9:00

Extends the depth of students' understanding of literature and writing; does not focus on accelerating their grade-level progression

No class credit -- Writing Workshop supplements public school classes

NOTE: ALL North Fork School English classes use the Writing workshop process. This class introduces students to methods and ideas which are the basis for academic work in higher grades. Writing Workshop itself does not replace or duplicate the important academic work done in grades 6-12.

1st Year Program

Core CURRICULA I: Ancient Cultures Humanities/Writing Workshop

In Ancient Cultures, students examine archeological and historical clues for evidence of cultural and social structures. By learning the differences between observations and inferences, students begin to understand how historians piece together information about ancient cultures.

First Year English explores literature from time periods and concepts studied in Ancient Cultures & the Middle Ages. Novels include: Mara, Daughter of the Nile; Antigone; D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths; The Canterbury Tales; A Proud Taste for Scarlet & Miniver; and The Green Book.

Students select a year-long interdisciplinary independent project that relates several aspects of one or more cultures to their lives. As their project develops, they are asked to review portions of it with various teachers for advice and direction. Independent projects are presented and displayed to the public at the annual parent meeting in May.

Academic subjects in the First Year Program are fully integrated, with ten hours of Art instruction, ten hours of Drama, and several interdisciplinary classes in archeology, Fibonacci sequence mathematics, and teacher-assisted, student-directed independent projects as well as beginning French.

Starting in 2020, this class has been taught over three consecutive years in Humanities/Writing Workshop

2nd Year Program

Core CURRICULA II: American History and Literature

American History covers the political, social, cultural, economic, and philosophical history of the United States from pre-European settlement to Reconstruction. History encourages analytical thought through the study of texts, literature selections, and supplementary materials, which provide a wide array of important theoretical points of view.

French language and culture introduces 2nd Year students to the joys and difficulties of learning a second language, while giving them an increased understanding of how the English language is structured. 

The Fine Arts curriculum includes ten hours of drama/public speaking work, and ten hours of fine arts. 

Second Year English combines literature from time periods and concepts studied in the American History course with analysis of short stories, creative and analytical writing. Novels include: The Witch of Blackbird Pond; The Slave Dancer; The Red Badge of Courage; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; The Giver; and Fahrenheit 451.  Students also explore the writing of Transcendentalist poets and interpret various American historical documents and speeches.

Details: Grades 7 and 8

Offered in alternating years with the 1st and 3rd Year Programs

Monday through Thursday 8:00-10:00; Fridays are study periods at home

REPLACES credit in Middle School English (ELA) and Social Studies classes

3rd Year Program

Core CURRICULA III: European Revolutions and British Literature

World History begins with the Renaissance, and ends with the Russian Revolution, providing an introduction to European, Middle Eastern and world history. It traces the major upheavals in Europe and its rising power internationally.

French language and culture offers students invaluable insight into the cultural forces that shaped ideas during The Enlightenment and the French Revolution, as well as an increased understanding of how the English language is structured. 

Fine Arts includes twenty hours during the school year in which students explore the techniques of artists in the Renaissance, the French Impressionist Period, and Muslim cultural art.

Third Year English covers British authors who affected ideas during the period from 1450 to 1950.  Selections from Sir Thomas More's Utopia, Thomas Hobbe's Leviathan, and John Locke's essay, Of Civil Government, reveal Man's view of humanity and how it has shaped the world; Well's story, The Time Machine, Swift's Gulliver's Travels, Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, and George Orwell's Animal Farm all continue variations of this theme.

Shakespeare's exploration of human nature adds yet another element to our understanding of history in the third year. Beginning with a comedy, either As You Like It, or Taming of the Shrew, we read selected sonnets; Romeo and Juliet; Henry IV, Part I;  Othello; and The Tempest. Our study of poetry and satire includes the "Metaphysical" poetry of Donne, Marvell, Herbert, Herrick, Crashaw, & Vaughn.

Details: Grades 8 and 9

Offered in alternating years with the 2nd Year Program

Monday through Thursday 8:00-10:00; Fridays are study periods at home

REPLACES credit in High School English and World History OR in Middle School English (ELA) and Social Studies classes

English II: Journeys from home / AP Language & Composition

High school students are engaged in the process of discovering individual paths to the adult world. As they leave the restrictive boundaries of home and adult authority, they begin to synthesize a world-view that is uniquely their own. This course explores literature in which characters leave the protected environment of home to find their own way in the world. The first of a two-year preparation for the AP® Language & Composition exam.

English III: American Literature / AP® Language & Composition

The first of a two-year preparation for the AP® Literature & Composition Exam, English III is a study of Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, James, Steinbeck, Cather, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, O’Connor, Faulkner, & American poets. This course integrates the needs of students who have acquired basic skills in NFS programs with those of students who have little background in literary analysis.

AP® World History

AP® World History investigates five course themes and 19 key concepts in six different chronological periods, from approximately 8000 B.C.E. to the present, including:

1. Interaction Between Humans and the Environment

2. Development and Interaction of Cultures

3. State Building, Expansion, and Conflict

4. Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems

5. Development and Transformation of Social Structures

AP® United States History

In Advanced Placement® U.S. History, students develop analytical skills and acquire a thorough knowledge of United States History. The approach to this course includes, but is not limited to, developing substantial knowledge of social, cultural, economic and military events relevant to the history of the United States.