Academics

Literacy

Our literacy class will follow the Balanced Literacy framework. The Balanced Literacy framework is broken up into a daily experience of writing, shared reading, guided reading, an interactive read aloud, word work, and independent reading. Our units of study are based on the LearnZillion EL Language Arts Curriculum. 

LearnZillion EL Language Arts Curriculum is comprehensive. The module lessons and K-2 Labs immerse primary students in content-based literacy, learning skills via text sets based on compelling topics. These two components of the curriculum complement each other to give students strong, active literacy instruction. The K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block gives K-2 students another hour per day of essential structured phonics instruction to help them crack the alphabetic code. Taken as a whole, this rigorous and joyful literacy curriculum is designed to ensure that all children have a genuine opportunity to grow and succeed. 

Module 1- Tools at Work

Module 2- What's Up in the Sky: The Study of the Sun, Moon, and Stars

Module 3- Growing as Researchers: Bird's Amazing Bodies

Module 4- Caring for Birds

Here is a link to a list of books we enjoy reading throughout the year.

Math- Illustrative Math 

This curriculum prioritizes practicing math strategies through games and exploration alongside daily synthesizing conversations and activities. 

Unit 1: Adding, Subtracting, and Working with Data

Unit 2: Addition and Subtraction Story Problems

More to come at curriculum night. 

Character Education

Parents are asked to sign up to teach a Character Education lesson monthly. Please contact PTA if you are interested in volunteering to teach a lesson to your child's class. 

Monthly Character Traits

August/September- Respect

October- Responsibility

November- Honesty 

December- Caring

January- Justice & Fairness

February- Citizenship

March- Courage

April- Perseverance 

May- Hope

Social Studies

Kindergarten through second grade students are introduced to an integrative approach of Social Studies by exploring aspects of self, others, families and communities across the world in developmentally responsive ways. In early years, children develop a foundation for the entire Social Studies program beginning in Kindergarten; therefore, Social Studies must be an essential part of the daily curriculum. As students are acquainted with diverse classmates, they develop awareness of the similarities among individuals in the classroom as well as within the school, community and world. Comparing family traditions enables students to accept and appreciate our diverse society and acquire a sense of purpose regarding their role and the role of other citizens within the community and world. K-2 students develop geographic awareness of their surroundings by using geographic representations to process information about locations using maps and globes. They learn that people not only use the environment, but also modify or adapt to it. In history, students begin to develop the ability to think like a historian as they acquire knowledge of history to understand the past and present. Students begin to appreciate the influence history has on their daily lives as they identify contributions of historical figures. They examine why certain events and people are celebrated through national holidays. In economics, students develop and build upon basic economic concepts by relating them to their own wants and needs. 

Units:

Unit 1: Rights and Responsibilities

Unit 2: Geography

Unit 3: Culture

Unit 4: Economics

Science

Research shows that young students work well in a cooperative learning environment. Students should be actively involved in exploring phenomena in the natural world posing questions and seeking answers as they arise. Students develop simple skills of observation, measurement and number sense as they actively participate in simple investigations. During investigations, students must have opportunity to use tools such as magnifiers, thermometers, rulers, or balances to gather data and extend their senses. They must have ample time to talk about their observations and compare their observations with those of others. They should be encouraged to employ oral language, drawings and models to communicate results and explanations of investigations and experiments. In a cooperative learning environment, students learn that when people give different descriptions of the same thing, it is better to make new observations instead of debating about who is correct. Students must always use appropriate safety procedures, including listening skills, when conducting simple investigations. 

Units:

Science Inquiry

Force and Motion

Earth and Universe

Earth Systems, Structures and Processes

Ecosystems

Molecular Biology

Educational Apps and Games

Your teacher will let you know about different Apps and Games that can be used for learning at home.

Dreambox Learning School Code:  dspq/sedgefielde

RAZ Kids Teacher Codes:  Kbon0, kcasas1, klewis239, bperson4, csnow16, kvreeland1, cweathers12 

Greg Tang

Sunshine Math