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
-
Counts values up to 10,000
-
Adds and subtracts numbers with up to 5 digits
-
Adds and subtracts fractions with like denominators
-
Knows multiplication facts 0 to 10
-
Multiplies and Divides multi digit numbers by 1 digit number
-
Measures and converts units of measurement
-
Measures perimeter of polygons
-
Identifies geometric objects
-
Organizes and represents data
-
Uses appropriate problem solving strategies
GRADE 4 LEVEL
-
Counts values to 1,000,000 and identifies them
-
Identifies fractions and prime numbers
-
Multiplies multi digit numbers by a 2 digit number
-
Divides multi digit numbers by a 1 digit number
-
Measures and converts units of measurement
-
Measures perimeter and area of rectangles
-
Identifies and compares plane and solid geometric figures
-
Organizes and represents data
-
Uses appropriate problem solving strategies
GRADE 5 LEVEL
-
Adds, subtracts, multiplies and divides with decimals
-
Measures and converts units of measurement
-
Finds volume and surface area of 3-D objects
-
Identifies and compares plane and solid geometric figures
-
Organizes and represents data
-
Uses appropriate problem solving strategies
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.