District Initiatives
SIOP
The Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model is a research-based and validated instructional model that has proven effective in addressing the academic needs of English learners.
The SIOP Model consists of eight interrelated components:
- Lesson Preparation
- Building Background
- Comprehensible Input
- Strategies
- Interaction
- Practice/Application
- Lesson Delivery
- Review & Assessment
Teachers use instructional strategies connected to each of these components, designing and delivering lessons that address the academic and grammatical/syntactical needs of all learners, especially english language learners.
Adapted from http://www.cal.org/siop/about/
Thinking Maps ®
Thinking Maps are organizational tools that are used to support specific ways of thinking. Thinking maps allow students to organize information visually.
Thinking Maps are now being utilized in every school in the District (Pre-K through grade 12). All 8 Thinking Maps foster organization and comprehension of information. These maps are: Circle Map (For Defining in Context); Tree Map (For Classifying and Sorting); Bubble Map (For Describing Using Adjectives); Flow Map (For Sequencing and Ordering); Multi-Flow Map (For Causes and Effects); Brace Map (For Analyzing Whole Objects and Parts); and the Bridge Map (Seeing Analogies). Thinking Maps®
Resources for Parents:
Click the underlined links above to view videos explaining Thinking Maps.
PBIS
The Ossining Union Free School District participates in a system-wide approach to managing student behavior called Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports, or PBIS. At all of the elementary schools, students follow the 3 P'S- Prompt, Polite, Prepared, Safe.
Students are taught specific behavior expectations for each P for every area of the school environment. When students know what is expected of them, they are able to rise to the occassion! Please discuss these behaviors with your child at home to support us in the school environment.