Curriculum Information

Curriculum Grades 5 and 6

Literacy

• Reading instruction will be in grade level classes following the Guided Reading whole group/small group model.  We will be focusing on novel studies and comprehension skill development in small group.

• Reading instruction will be designed using the Common Core, our national standards. Please refer to the following link for these standards.  www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/           

• Reading instruction will reflect an integrated curriculum, including social studies and science.

• Students should read a minimum of 20 minutes per night.

Writing/Spelling

• Students are assessed using the Developmental Spelling Analysis (DSA) in the Fall.  The DSA helps teachers identify children’s stages of spelling development, highlight specific strengths and weaknesses in featural knowledge and monitor progress over time. 

• Instruction in writing follows the Lucy Calkins approach to writing. This method of instruction focuses on the goal of fostering lifelong writers. It is based upon four principles; students will write about their own lives, they will use a consistent writing process, they will work in authentic ways and it will foster independence.

  Mathematics

• Instruction will be based on the Common Core State Standards and the Student Learning Outcomes that have been established for all students in the Washington Central Unified Union School District.  The common core standards can be found here:  http://www.corestandards.org/Math/

• Instruction and assessment go hand in hand. Formative and summative assessments are used to determine students' strengths and instructional needs.

• Student will be provided with a math journal to take notes and to use as a reference in class.  The Ready Math and I-Ready programs will also be utilized.

Science

• In science class students learn, explore, and question as scientists through activities, experiments, observations and scientist meetings.

• Science instruction is based on the WCSU Science Standards and Performance Indicators as well as the Next Generation Science Standards.  http://www.nextgenscience.org/

Global Citizenship

• In Global citizenship students will learn about civic literacy, economics, geography, history and culture.  Each one of those topics comes with several performance indicators and content.  

• Global Citizenship is based on the WCSU Global Studies Standards and Performance Indicators.

General Information

• We will continue to follow the guidelines for Responsive Classroom as well as the PBIS model to create a responsible, and caring classroom community.  Instruction is differentiated for students based on individuals' learning needs. 

• Newsletters are monthly and go home on the first Friday of each month unless otherwise noted.

• Friday Folders go home each Friday with student work/information and must be returned each Monday.

• Students are responsible for reading a minimum of twenty minutes each night.

• Please encourage your child to review his/her student planner nightly in order to keep up with homework expectations.