Curriculum in Use and Goals by Grade Level and Teacher
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Reading and Language Arts
Alphabetic knowledge, print awareness, literature comprehension, vocabulary, writing and written and oral communication are taught using the Open Court Imagine It program, the Waterford Early Reading Computer program, and Class News.
End of Year Goals
Recognize all upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet
Know all 26 letter sounds
Recognize high frequency words (the, and, I, a, is, etc.)
Begin to blend words
Use pictures and print to get meaning from stories
Know that print goes from left to right.
Retell a story in sequence
Realize print carries a message
Display reading-like behavior
Write using phonetic spelling
Math
Math is taught using the Investigations Math program nad the Waterford Early Math Computer program. The students will be introduced to a variety of mathematical skills using various hands-on activities, and group and oral exercises.
End of Year Goals
Counts to 100
Counts by 10’s to 100
Recognize and name numbers 0-20
Know 5 shapes: circle, triangle, square, rectangle, and oval
Be able to identify and extend patterns
Understand capacity (more, less, weight, length)
Sort/Classify/Same/Different
Know positional terms
Social Studies
Social Studies is taught using thematic units. They focus on the student and how they relate to others in their family, classroom, school, and community.
Science
Science is taught using the FOSS Science program. This science program will be supplemented with thematic science units.
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1st/2nd grade: Teachers: Lisa Queen, Kris Bolender, Debbie Anderson
1st grade Reading:
· Phonemic Awareness – rhyming, playing with sounds, switching sounds, first and last sounds in words.
· Knowing all sounds including two letter combinations.
· Reading simple and later longer words by using phonics sounds.
· Frequent reading of decodable text.
· Building a vocabulary of fluent known words.
· Developing comprehension and vocabulary through books read aloud.
Curriculum
· Open Court
· Phonics workbooks
· Read aloud books
1st grade Math: We use the Investigations in Number, Data, and Space curriculum, supplemented by the Power of 10 curriculum and facts practice. The "big idea" in first and second grades is Number Sense. this includes understanding the patterns of numbers, and quick efficient ways to add and subtract them. There are also units on Geometry, Measurement, and Probability.
1st grade Writing: In first grade we hope students will move from single sentence or phrase writing to more complete blocks. We begin to talk about organization and description. We hold first graders accountable to spell their "list" words always accurately and to use the rules of phonics they have learned to attempt other words. We hope to see them use beginning capitals and end punctuation. We use the Primary Step Up to Writing curriculum as a guideline.
2nd grade Reading:
Strengthen phonics skills - especially two letter combinations.
Decode multi-syllable words
Read a range of material including fiction and non-fiction.
Increase reading fluency
Develop vocabulary and comprehension skills including inference, compare and contrast, main idea and details.
Learn to identify text features such as setting, character and theme.
Second grade is a huge year for writing. Students begin to organize their expository work into paragraphs, to use topic sentences and supporting details. We continue to use Step Up to Writing as well as the 6 Traits of Writing curriculum to encourage an interesting voice and ideas, rich word choice/vocabulary development, organization, good spelling and punctuation, and varied sentence structures. In fiction and creative writing students begin to use ideas about character, setting, problem, resolution and to plan their writing using story maps.
Science: We use the FOSS science kits. Because we have 2 grades we alternate years. One year we do Insects, Balance and Motion, and Pebbles, Sand, and Soil. The next we do Plants, Air and Weather, and Solids and Liquids. We also have many units we do because we have an interest in them. We do a science fair in February/March.
Social Studies: Again we alternate years and work our way around the globe, studying all the continents. We do an extensive Native American unit on canoes one year and drums the next.
Exploratory: Once a week students choose a class for fun that reflects an area of expertise or interest of the teachers. There is always a music class, an art class, a movement class, and a Spanish class.
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3rd grade: Teacher: Anita McDugle
Reading: The McGraw Hill Reading Curriculum supplemented by novel sets (chapter books) and a weekly magazine.
My principal goal is to have all 3rd grades students able to read (& complete) and understand a chapter book at their independent level by the end of the year.
Writing: Step up to Writing is the curriculum and I supplement with 4 Square Writing.
My goal is to have 3rd grade students writing with detail and organization in response to questions about reading, math and science. They will also be writing reports and narratives of 5 paragraphs. They need to use periods, capitals letters, paragraphs, and correct spelling in their work.
Math: The principal curriculum material is Investigations with supplements from Addison Wesley, math facts drill and problem solving.
My goal for the 3rd graders is that they can compute in addition and subtraction with ease, confidence and efficiency. They understand multiplication and division and when and how to use them. They have a variety of strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems in the thousands and they are able to solve multi-step problems. Students will be able to work with geometric shapes and measure accurately, including telling time and using money.
Science: We use the FOSS kits and I supplement with the Holt Science series.
My goal for students is that they become familiar with the scientific process through the exploration of measurement (linear, mass, volume and temperature), earth materials (rocks and minerals) and the structures of life (plant and animal). We also study space and put on a space fair each winter. Students and their families are expected to complete a space project. In the spring, students complete their own report on an animal and we go to the zoo!
Social Studies: Scholastic News weekly magazine is the primary curriculum and the Holt Social Studies Communities text is a supplemental material.
We learn about current events, map skills, geography and it’s impact on human societies, and understanding different world cultures and civilizations.
Optional Topic Areas
Exploratory: We work on social skills and problem solving in a class meeting format. We also learn to do some simple yoga as a way to refresh and relax ourselves.
Technology: We use the classroom computers to research topics. We also use them for weekly reading quizzes and math practice. We may work on keyboarding this spring.
Arts: We read and write poetry and complete a variety of art projects
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3rd grade :Teacher: Kathy Gray
Reading: The McGraw Hill Reading Curriculum supplemented by novel sets (chapter books) and a weekly magazine Time for KidsWriting: Step up to Writing is the curriculum and I supplement with 4 Square Writing
My goal is to have 3rd grade students writing with detail and organization in response to questions about reading, math and science. They will also be writing reports and narratives of at least 5 paragraphs. They need to use periods, capitals letters, paragraphs, and correct spelling in their work.
Math: The principal curriculum material is Investigations with supplements from Addison Wesley, paired practice and anything else I can get my hands on.
My goal for the 3rd graders is that they can compute in addition and subtraction with ease, confidence and efficiency. They understand multiplication and division and when and how to use them. They have a variety of strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems in the thousands and they are able to solve multi-step problems. Students will be able to work with geometric shapes and measure accurately, including telling time.
Science: We use the FOSS kits and I supplement with the Holt Science series.
My goal for students is that they become familiar with the scientific process through the exploration of measurement (linear, mass, volume and temperature), earth materials (rocks and minerals) and the structures of life (plant and animal). We also study space and put on a space fair each winter. Students and their families are expected to complete a space project. In the spring, students complete their own report on an animal and we go to the zoo!
Social Studies: Time for Kids weekly magazine is the primary curriculum and the Holt Social Studies Communities text is a supplemental material.
We learn about current events, map skills and geography and about the settlement of Plymouth and Thanksgiving.
4th Grade : Teachers: Patti Arcand and Carol Coker
Reading: 4th graders are reading 4 stories per week with six new vocabulary words in each story. We use the McGraw Hill reading series. We also read a variety of novels and Great Books which emphasize reading comprehension, literary analysis and connections between a variety of texts. Language arts study is directly related to the stories we are reading.
Math: We use a variety of math curriculum to teach math facts, concepts and problem solving. 4th graders learn multiplication and division of large numbers, fractions, probability, geometry and beginning algebra.
Writing: Narrative, expository writing and poetry are emphasized in 4th grade.
Social studies and science: Washington State geography and history are 4th grade subjects. We have been using Foss science kits for the past few years.
Cultural enrichment: 4th grade attends a Childrens' Theater play in Seattle each year, usually before Christmas. This is always a wonderful experience for the students.
5th grade: Teachers: Mrs. Bourgault + Mrs. Smith
Reading: McGraw-Hill
Language: Silver Burdett Ginn, World of Language
Language units: Narratives, Expository, Explanatory, Persuasive Writing, Accelerated Readers, Novel Sets, Phonics, Grammar, and Handwriting
Math: TERC, Investigations
September/October Mathematical Thinking + Building on Numbers You Know
November/December Picturing Polygons
January Containers and Cubes
February/March/April Name That Portion + Fraction Towers
May Between Never and Always
June Data: Kids, Cats, and Ads or Patterns of Change
Writing: Step up to Writing
Social Studies: Follet Social Studies, Our United States
Social Studies: Exploration of the New World, First Americans (Native Americans), Colonial America, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, Signing of the Constitution, Amendments to the Constitution, The Bill of Rights, Women’s Suffrage Movement, Civil Rights Movement, Branches of US Government, US Geography and Regions, and The 50 US States
September Exploration and First Americans (Native Americans)
October/November Colonial America and Revolutionary War
December Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights
January Women’s Suffrage and Civil Rights Movements
February Branches of Government and How a Bill Becomes a Law
March/April U.S. Geography and Regions
May/June The 50 States + State Reports
Science: FOSS, Science Kits, Variables, Landforms, and Food and Nutrition
September/November Variables Foss Kit + Scientific Method
December/March Landforms Foss Kit + Science Fair
April/June Environments Foss Kit, Mt. St. Helens, & Human Growth and Development
6th grade :Teacher : Carolyn Gray
Reading: Accelerated Reader, Read Alouds from selected novels that tie in with Social Studies units
Writing: Comparison and Observation Papers in science.
South American Animal Book for First Grade (Includes Essay)
Math: NA (taught by Ms. Barger)
Science: Ecosystems (Prentice Hall, General Science))
Technology of Paper
Magnets and Motors
Outdoor Education
Project Alert (Drug and Alcohol Preventation)
Rainforest (South America)
The Second Voyage of the Mimi (Mexico)
Social Studies: Western Hemisphere (Prentice Hall)
1. Map skills
2. Canada and the US
3. Mexico and Central America
4. South America
Technology: Word Processing
Internet Research
Power Point Presentations
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7th and 8th grade Language Arts and 7th grade Social Studies; Teacher: Chambliss Keith
Reading Themes and Areas of Emphasis7th Grade Social Studies
The world’s eastern hemisphere is the main focus in 7th grade Social Studies.
The relationship between the people, the culture and natural resources is a major theme in social studies.
Curriculum components include: Eastern Hemisphere (Europe, Russia, Africa, Asia and the Pacific); Geography: tools and concepts; HistoryPeople and Culture; Government; Economics;Multicultural literature; ESD #113 Video library
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7th and 8th grade Math: teacher: Laurie Byrd
7th Grade Math
Materials; Connected Mathmatics, Accelerated Math, WASL examples, Addison Wesley plus projects and what have you connected to our area.
Number sense, geometric sense, algebraic sense, probability and statistics, analyze, problem solve, communicate and connect to real life.
8th grade Math
Materials; Connected Math, Accelerated Math, Labs, Projects and experiments, Integrated Math, Addison Wesley and what have you.
Algebraic sense, Linear models and equations, Geometric Sense, Number Sense, Pythagorean Theorem, Measurement, Probability and statistics, Proportions, Problem Solving, Communications, Analyze, and Connections. Everything above relates to Algebra.
Special Education Kindergarten-Third Grade: teacher: Daphne Patterson
MATH:
Our core Math curriculum is Saxon Math published by Saxon Publishers. We use the K, 1st and 2nd grade levels to help students gain math understanding and demonstrate skill mastery. Saxon Math is a success-oriented program that enables children to develop a solid foundation in the language and basic concepts of all areas of mathematics. It uses a multisensory approach and has five instructional components.
1)The Meeting is an expanded lesson that includes the traditional calendar. 2)The Lesson introduces new concepts and the group uses materials, has discussions and works together to learn. 3) Guided Practice follows the lesson. 4) Number Fact Practice is provided as a group and individually. 5)Oral and Written Assessments are used to monitor students progress.
In addition to the Saxon Math Program we use The Touchpoint Approach for teaching basic Math Computation with some of the students who have difficulty with memory and attention.
READING:
Our core reading curriculum is Read Well published by Sopris West. Read Well is a research based teacher directed reading program that provides explicit well sequenced phonics instruction. The student is assessed then placed at the appropriate instructional level. Read Well uses themes and culturally meaningful connections to improve reading comprehension. Decoding lessons are taught in small groups and supplemented by solo reading and skill work. Early introduction of high frequency words builds students confidence.
We also use Primary Phonics Readers and workbooks to give students more practice using their reading skills. Each student has individual goals and objectives.
WRITING:
For writing instruction we use the School District program, Step Up to Writing, as well as Interactive Writing. Student's skills are assessed using writing samples and then individual goals are set. Their writing goals can include the basic skill of letter sound association, spelling words phonetically or by sight, writing complete sentences, writing a paragraph with a topic sentence and writing reports and stories depending on the skill level and need of each student.
Writing is an important part of our Reading and Math lessons. After reading we summarize main ideas, recall details about characters and setting and discuss conflicts and resolutions in stories. Math story problems are answered using sentences, labeling pictures with words and writing the numbers needed to solve each problem.
SOCIAL/SELF-HELP/LIFE-SKILLS:
Many of our students need instruction in learning social, self-help and life-skills. These skills are modeled, taught and practiced during Reading, Writing and Math lessons. In addition we use lessons from the Second Step Social Curriculum and the Class Meeting Model. We also do occasional cooking activities that relate to academics. The school-wide Think Time program is used to help students learn appropriate social skills. Students are assessed using the Brigance Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills.
Special Education Grades 4-5: Teacher: Al Walp
Math-We primarily use the SRA Spectrum Math series. This program begins with very basic math and goes through 6th grade basic skills. We also review and practice multiplication and division facts. For some addition and subtraction facts are necessary.
Reading-The students (depending upon IEP goals) are utilizing the computer phonetic programs from Lexia and Reading Academy. We also use the direct instruction program Corrective Reading from SRA.
Writing-When needed we use various materials from many printed programs to reteach grammar skills. Our primary objective is to individually tutor students on individual writing assignments. Due to different needs, we may or may not give group instructions on specific writing skills. We also practice handwriting skills.
Grade Five Reading-For some students we are using fourth grade level McGraw Hill. This provides all of the same types of skills that the grade level program provides. We can incorporate writing and listening skills as we work on improving reading skills. Phonics, spelling and grammar are also included.
Special Education Grades 5-8: Teacher: Al Walpt
At these grade levels we also utilize the Accelerated Math. This program has basic skills and more at various grade levels. It is individualized in terms of rate and individual objectives can be assigned. It helps us communicate with each student’s homeroom or math teacher because we can see how each student is doing on his or her goals. It informs us as to which areas a student needs individual instruction.
For a group of seventh grade students we also use a program called Math Stories for Problem Solving Success, which was produced by the Center for Applied Research in Education. This program incorporates reading, writing and problem solving in all math areas. It is also a good approach to WASL like problems.
Because of our RTI program, we have some students that are receiving some services in Read Naturally and Read Right. We also are serving some non special ed. students in our reading groups.