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Elementary Classroom

Overview

The Kindergarten through fifth grade students spend most of their day in their classroom with their primary teacher, Brooke Strand, and the teaching assistant, Michelle Doherty and Tina Corey.  Here, they learn literacy, math, social studies, science and compensatory skills such as Braille, low vision skills, social skills, and self-help skills. 

The students also have classes with therapists and instructors that specialize in certain areas.  They attend classes for fitness, music, daily living skills, group speech, library, and art.  As needed, students also have "pull-outs" for speech and language therapy, additional Braille instruction, physical and occupational therapy, music therapy, and/or orientation and mobility lessons.

Primary School Program

MATH

1. Date patterns – work on various patterns and introducing grade level math vocabulary such as various angles, lines, etc.

2. Money – adding money each day by either multiplying the date by a number or adding a set amount each day. Work on number placement, decimals and large numbers, writing dollars and cents and learning change.

3. Clock/Calculator – set various times on the clock by hours, half hours, 15 minute and 5 minute intervals along with writing the Nemeth equivalent.

4. Facts– graph personal progress recalling addition and subtraction facts up to 10 and multiplication facts to 10 as well.

5. Story Problem – Read a “math” poem with 10 story problems associated with poem. Each day answer 1 of the story problems.

6. Problem of the Day – review of learned math vocabulary or group concepts such as measurement, fractions, etc.

KINDERGARTEN LEVEL

·                 Counting with one-to-one correspondence

·                 Making sense of story problems that involve combining and separating by acting them out and retelling them

·                 Using pictures, numbers, or words to record solutions to a problem, to represent quantities, and to record number combinations

·                 Collecting, recording, and representing data in a variety of ways (4.1, 4.2, 4.3)

·                 Developing vocabulary to name and describe 2-D and 3-D shapes and their attributes

·                 Reading, writing, and sequencing numbers to 10

·                 Becoming familiar with combinations of numbers up to about 8

·                 Describing and comparing lengths through direct comparison

GRADE 1 LEVEL

·                 Developing strategies for solving combining and separating story problems

·                 Recording strategies using pictures, numbers, and words

·                 Collecting, sorting, categorizing, recording, and describing data for problem solving

·                 Observing, describing, and comparing 2-D and 3-D shapes and their characteristics

·                 Reading, writing, and sequencing numbers to 100

·                 Counting to 100 by 2?s, 5?s, and 10?s

·                 Finding combinations of numbers up to about 20

·                 Adding and subtracting two-digit numbers without renaming

·                 Describing and comparing weights, capacities, and lengths through direct comparison and by measuring with nonstandard units

·                 Using math in daily lives including identifying and counting coins and telling time to the half hour

GRADE 2 LEVEL

·                 Solving story problems

·                 Collecting, recording, comparing, interpreting, and representing data

·                 Composing and decomposing 2-D and 3-D shapes

·                 Recognizing and labeling fractions in halves, thirds, and fourths

·                 Read, write, and sequence numbers to 999

·                 Knowing addition and subtraction facts and processes to 18 and knowing about multiplication

·                 Developing strategies (including regrouping) for adding and subtracting numbers to 99

·                 Measuring in nonstandard units

·                 Using math in daily lives including identifying and counting coin values to $1.00 and telling time to the quarter hour and in 5 minute intervals (5.3

 

GRADE 3 LEVEL

 

 

GRADE 4 LEVEL

 

 

GRADE 5 LEVEL

Texts and Materials:  Investigations in Number, Data, and Space Curriculum for Grades 1 and 2, Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics, Every Day Counts Calendar Math Grade 1 

LITERACY

After a Learning Media Assessment has been completed, the students learn appropriate reading or pre-reading skills.  Braille and large print is available throughout the classroom for labeling and reading materials.  Students are provided with appropriate accommodations, including lighting, necessary print size, reading stands, etc.

Course Goal:  During the course of the year, students will develop their reading and writing skills.

Course Objectives:  Students will receive instruction and practice in the following areas:

GUIDED READING

·                 Build comprehension and fluency with reading

·                 Learn about a variety of text forms and text features

·                 Develop knowledge of author's craft

·                 Use strategies to develop understanding while reading and listening

·                 Make inferences

WORKING WITH WORDS

·                 Read, spell, and use high frequency words correctly

·                 Learn patterns necessary for decoding and spelling

SELF SELECTED READING BLOCK

·                 Select books

·                 Appreciate different types of text

·                 Build fluency and confidence as readers

·                 Share reading experience

WRITING SKILLS

·                 Apply the five step writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.

·                 Learn and refine skills in the six strands of writing: organization, idea, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, and conventions

·                 Practice descriptive writing, narrative writing, and expository writing

·                 Texts and Materials:  Literature Works Curriculum by Silver Burdett Ginn for Grades for grades K-2, Four Blocks Literacy Model, and Handwriting Without Tears

Year Overview:   Students will spend 20-30 minutes per day on each of the Four Blocks:

The Guided Reading Block includes a comprehension skill focus, student reading with teacher, and a closure activity.

The Working with Words Block includes word introduction/review and a decoding/spelling activity.

The Writing Block includes a writing mini-lesson, student writing and conferencing, and student sharing from the Author's Chair.

The Self-Selected Reading Block includes teacher read-aloud, independent reading and conferencing, and sharing.

SCIENCE

Particular topics of study will be offered by quarter and integrated throughout the day. Projects or reports will be assigned related to current study. Hands-on experiences are the focus of the science program.  Everyday science is integrated into calendar and math activities throughout the year. 

Course Goal:  During the course of the year, students will develop their science skills and knowledge.

Course Objective: Students will receive instruction and practice:

·                 Life Around Us (Life science)
Identify similarities in living things

·                 Identify differences between plants and animals

·                 Explore individual differences within a species

·                 Changes Around us (physical science)
Expand understanding of solids, liquids, and gasses

·                 Explore changes in states of matter

·                 Investigate changes involving mixtures

Throughout the year

·                 Use some scientific instruments

·                 Explore various weather features and how whether effects their lives

·                 Measuring using nonstandard and standard units

·                 Collecting, sorting, classifying, and recording data

Texts and/or material: Science and Technology for children units -- Changes Unit and Organisms Unit, various trade books

Semester Overview:
Quarter 1: Matter

Quarter 3: Simple Machines

*See other math outline for more science related topics.  Math will cover measuring, sorting, collecting, classifying, and recording data.  During calendar time in October, January, and April students will learn and graph weather/season information.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Particular topics of study will be offered by quarter and integrated throughout the day. Projects or reports will be assigned related to current study. An important emphasis for the social studies program is appropriate social and interactive skills.  The QUEST curriculum, a service of Lions Clubs International, is used throughout the year and integrated in each day.  Students also engage in a weekly group speech lesson with the school speech and language pathologist. 

Course Goal:  During the course of the year, students will develop their knowledge of social studies.

Course Objective: Students will receive instruction and practice

·                 People around us -- Quest

·                 Understand the purpose of rules and laws

·                 Feel comfortable and valued as a member of the classroom and school community

·                 Identify various jobs that are part of the community

·                 Use interpersonal skills in relating to others

·                 Learn how to make positive and responsible decisions and say “no” to harmful ones

·                 Value and respect self and others

·                 Understand different types of families and changes in families

·                 Learn how family life has changed over time

·                 Explore geographical influences on family

·                 Appreciate their own and others’ family celebrations

·                 Learn about ancestors and immigrants

·                 Understand the importance of family support

·                 Places around us
Read maps

·                 Explore the rights and responsibilities of citizens

·                 Describe transportation and why it is important

·                 Learn about different types of transportation

·                 Explore how a vehicle is assembled and how mass-produced interchangeable parts speed up the manufacturing process

·                 Understand the importance of transportation regulations and how they affect people’s personal lives.

·                 Develop an awareness of designs an structures that humans build to make transportation easier.

·                 Understand transportation around the world and how it is generally more alike than different

·                 Develop an awareness of how people make decisions related to transportation

·                 Learn about careers in transportation

Texts and/or material: Quest curriculum, Social Studies Excursions: Powerful Units on Communication, Transportation, and Family Living

Semester Overview:
Quarter 1: Oregon Trail  

Quarter 3: Cultures

COMPENSATORY SKILLS AND THERAPIES

Students will also receive instruction and practice in compensatory skill areas and therapies specified in their Individualized Education Plan.  This may include Braille, orientation and mobility, technology, and daily living skills.  Some students may also receive speech and language therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy.  The classroom teacher works with the therapist to carry out necessary practice throughout the day.

ADDITIONAL CLASSES

Students receive weekly music, art, and fitness instruction.

 


 

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