Our Curricula
For math, we use enVision Math. We have 16 topics to introduce and teach to mastery. In our classroom, we have a 45 minute math lesson each day. Math is taught in whole group, small group, partner, or independent activities, depending on the skill being taught. Students also reinforce math skills during afternoon center/choice time.
For reading, we use Scott Foresman's Reading Street program. Our school implements the Walk to Read model, which means that each grade has a specific time for their 42 minute literacy block. During Walk to Read, reading specialists and teachers read with small group of students four days a week. Students read three or four new books each week and reinforce skills we have been learning in class. While students are being rotated through reading groups, the rest of the class is independently working on writing in their daily journals. Our journal prompts and read alouds are often correlated. We also have literacy block each afternoon, which includes a read aloud, literacy activity, word work, and writing practice.
We teach students to write using the Zana Bloser handwriting program. We also implement Handwriting Without Tears to introduce letters in a meaningful way. Students practice handwriting daily, both in their journals and in a structured lesson and center each afternoon.
Our district has also created our own Writing Curriculum, which includes key concepts from the John Collins writing program and Write Traits. At the kindergarten level, the end of year goal is for students to be able to write three sentences in a personal narrative (story from/about their personal experience). Writing is modeled daily and skills are called "focus correction areas," or "FCAs." Students are focused on three FCAs during each writing lesson and students may be working on different skills, as with all of our teaching, skills are differentiated to fit the needs of our students. Our kindergarten FCAs are clearly posted during each lesson and can be seen here.
We teach the following science theme units: apples, pumpkins, weather, the five senses, force and motion, and living things. In social studies, we learn "all about me," friendship, growing and changing, and about many important holidays and cultural events that occur throughout the year.
For math, we use enVision Math. We have 16 topics to introduce and teach to mastery. In our classroom, we have a 45 minute math lesson each day. Math is taught in whole group, small group, partner, or independent activities, depending on the skill being taught. Students also reinforce math skills during afternoon center/choice time.
For reading, we use Scott Foresman's Reading Street program. Our school implements the Walk to Read model, which means that each grade has a specific time for their 42 minute literacy block. During Walk to Read, reading specialists and teachers read with small group of students four days a week. Students read three or four new books each week and reinforce skills we have been learning in class. While students are being rotated through reading groups, the rest of the class is independently working on writing in their daily journals. Our journal prompts and read alouds are often correlated. We also have literacy block each afternoon, which includes a read aloud, literacy activity, word work, and writing practice.
We teach students to write using the Zana Bloser handwriting program. We also implement Handwriting Without Tears to introduce letters in a meaningful way. Students practice handwriting daily, both in their journals and in a structured lesson and center each afternoon.
Our district has also created our own Writing Curriculum, which includes key concepts from the John Collins writing program and Write Traits. At the kindergarten level, the end of year goal is for students to be able to write three sentences in a personal narrative (story from/about their personal experience). Writing is modeled daily and skills are called "focus correction areas," or "FCAs." Students are focused on three FCAs during each writing lesson and students may be working on different skills, as with all of our teaching, skills are differentiated to fit the needs of our students. Our kindergarten FCAs are clearly posted during each lesson and can be seen here.
We teach the following science theme units: apples, pumpkins, weather, the five senses, force and motion, and living things. In social studies, we learn "all about me," friendship, growing and changing, and about many important holidays and cultural events that occur throughout the year.