The Nova Scotia curriculum is made up of outcomes. An outcome is a statement of what students should know or be able to do by the end of each grade.  Essentially, they are statements of what needs to be taught in a grade, and as such, they drive the instruction and assessment at that grade level.  

Every student is different, and teachers are expected to meet students where they are by providing appropriate supports or challenges based on how well students are achieving the outcomes. 

More information about Nova Scotia's curriculum can be found at: https://curriculum.novascotia.ca/

An overview of the curriculum we are covering this year can be found by clicking here.

School has changed a lot since I was a student! Research has shown that students sitting in neat rows of desks listening to the teacher talk is not the most effective way to learn new things!

Instruction in our class uses a variety of methods including:

• whole class lessons where a teacher and the entire class explore a topic together

• small group instruction where a teacher takes one or more students to work on a topic specific to the needs of those students

• collaborative work with peers where small groups of students work together to explore a topic or solve a problem

• independent practice where students apply what they have learned by completing a task by themselves

• sharing and reflection where students share ideas and think about the learning they have done

Our curriculum is integrated. This means topics in science, social studies, art, health, and information technology are addressed during our reading, writing, and math lessons. For example: we might read a book about magnets, talk about new words related to magnets, learn to write sentences about magnets, and measure the mass of objects a magnet can lift. 

Assessment in our class is on-going. This way, I know when students have learned what has been taught. Sometimes assessment shows that a topic needs to be reviewed with the entire class or maybe with just a small group of students. Other times, it shows that it is time to move on, or that some students need additional challenges. 

Assessment takes many forms that really boil down to three main categories:

Conversations

• • Talking to students while they work

  • Asking students to explain their work

  • Asking questions 

Observations

• • Using checklists or taking notes while watching students work

  • Listening to students read

Products

• Samples of work completed by students

• Written pieces, projects, unit check-ins, reading responses, videos, etc.

In addition, students will have opportunities to assess their own learning. They will also receive regular feedback about their progress with opportunities to improve their future learning.  

Many of the "products" mentioned above will be sent home so you have a chance to see what your child can do. Be sure to talk to your child about what they do at school. To help get more information from them, ask specific questions that don't have a yes/no or "nothing" answer. 

Report cards are sent home electronically 3 times per year. These reports focus on literacy, math, and work habits and tell if your child is "developing as expected" when compared to the provincial curriculum outcomes. The most important part of the report card is the comments. I do my best to outline your child's specific strengths and challenges. If you need instructions for accessing your child's report card, click here. After first and second term report cards, there is an opportunity for you and I to get together to chat about your child's progress.

If you are unsure of how things are going, please feel free to ask. We can set up a time to meet or chat on the phone.