Current Curriculum - North Carolina Standards

Singapore Math

*Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the link to the power point from our Back to School Curriculum Night.      

Click on the following link to access the UCPS AIG Parent page - https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/Page/2681

Click the following link to access the North Carolina Standards - http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/

The CCSS is the foundational curriculum for all students in the Gifted program.  Gifted Education also included lesson using above grade level materials, critical and creative thinking strategies, and other best practices in gifted education.

AIG Reading/ELA

In AIG math for grades 4 and 5, Singapore Math is a resource used as the primary approach to mathematics with supplemental materials/curriculum as necessary to meet all CCSS standards.

Singapore Math teaches students mathematical concepts in a three-step learning process:

1.  Concrete step: Students engage in hands-on learning experiences using concrete or real-world objects such as chips, dice, or cards.

2.  Pictorial: The students then draw pictorial devices called bar-models to solve mathematical problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

3.  Abstract: Students then transition to solving mathematical problems in an abstract way using numbers and symbols.

Singapore Model Drawing for Word problems

There is also systematic use of word problems as a way of building the semantics of mathematical operations. Students learn to solve multi-step word problems using the bar “model drawing” method.

The AIG language arts curriculum is complete with a wide variety of strategies intended to stretch, challenge and expand the thinking processes and abilities of each student.  The AIG department utilizes many language arts materials developed from the College of William & Mary's Center for Gifted Education, Junior Great Books, and Michael Clay Thompson.

The goals of the Language Arts units are to develop students' skills in literary analysis and interpretation, persuasive writing, linguistic competency, and oral communication, as well as to strengthen students' reasoning skills and understanding of the concept of change. The units also provide numerous opportunities for students to explore interdisciplinary connections to the language arts and to conduct research around issues relevant to their own lives. 

Vocabulary Instruction

      Caesar's English materials focus on Latin stems and vocabulary commonly found in advanced text and literary classics.

Grammar Instruction

Academic writing depends upon a strong knowledge of grammar concepts and standards.  Vocabulary usage instruction depends upon a comprehension of the parts of speech.  Content includes parts of speech, parts of sentences, phrases, and clauses.

Units of Study

Literacy instruction also includes integrated novel studies and strategy groups.  All genres of text will be incorporated into these units, including poetry, informational text, drama and a variety of fiction genres.