Academics

Marion City School’s vision is for all learners to acquire the knowledge and skills to become proficient readers, writers, speakers, and listeners. Marion City Schools views literacy achievement as a means to help students be successful in school and beyond. To increase language acquisition and literacy achievement, we believe it’s essential for staff to use evidence-based systems and high quality structured supports while engaging our community to address the diverse needs of our learners.

K-5

THEMES: STUDENT-CENTERED, EXPLICIT, DIFFERENTIATED, FOUNDATIONAL, TEXT-BASED, STANDARDS-BASED, AND CONTENT-RICH

Effective instruction is standards-based and addresses the shifts required through Ohio’s Learning Standards. This framework includes:

Daily, Tier 1 instruction is a balance of whole-group, small-group, and independent work based on student needs. Explicit and differentiated instruction is used with grade-level concepts and skills using board-approved, tier 1 curricula/resources:
- Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA)
- Handwriting Without Tears (HWOT)- K-3
- Heggerty- K-1 (2nd for intervention)
Instruction focused on the essential literacy skills incorporated in the Ohio Reading Standards - phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary acquisition, reading comprehension, and writing experiences - developed along a continuum of literacy learning
Learning to decode accurately and fluently through explicit and systematic foundational skill instruction
Reading, writing, speaking and listening instruction grounded in evidence from the text, including both literary and informational texts
Engaging students regularly with content-rich, complex text, and academic language through independent and scaffolded opportunities, as well as being read to by another person

Navigating MTSS & Literacy Support

CKLA Padlet

HWT Padlet

First 30 Days (1st-3rd grade)

Math

Problem Solving

Students will have the confidence to find a pathway to a solution to a problem, developing an understanding of efficiency over time.
Students do the bulk of the work (both thinking and talking).
Students will engage in productive struggle to learn the hows and whys of math
Students will take risks and persevere in solving real-world problems resulting in deep learning.
Students learn to work with numbers flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and appropriately.

Mathematical Conversations

Students work and actively participate in mathematical conversations about their thinking and learning.
Students will use and understand mathematical concepts by speaking the math language and using appropriate vocabulary.

K-5 Math at MCS is an 80 minute collection of time that promotes student discourse and standard mathematical practices through a focus on intentional instruction of mathematical strategies and reasoning. Essential components of the math time includes:

Coaching Cycles
Pacing Guide and Standards Document
Bridges podcasts and PD site
Unit Overviews
Family Communication Letters
Screener and unit assessments
SMPs (Standard Math Practices)
Number Corner (15-20 minutes)
Manipulatives
Math Apps
Workplaces: Use assessment to drive the workplace differentiation with intentional selections
Prior/future grade level work places
iReady personalized pathways
Intervention materials
Intervention Specialist
Concept Quests