Curriculum & Instruction 

Curriculum

The curriculum at Little Harbour is designed to develop physical, social, emotional, and intellectual abilities. We strive to make every child a life long learner and to help children learn how to learn.  Classroom teachers are sensitive to different rates of development, levels of ability, and styles of learning in planning instruction. Differentiation is evident throughout the school day. 

Literacy

Through a balanced literacy approach that begins with phonemic awareness and phonics and builds up to decoding and encoding, as well as exposure to quality literature for comprehension work, students will be taught to read. Our instructional model emphasizes reading engagement through book groups, individual conferences, strategy groups, and independent reading time. Teachers at the primary grades will use a variety of decodable texts so that kids can practice instructed skills directly. This instructional model allows students to explore a variety of genres and topics at their individual instructional levels. 

Word work, including phonemic and phonological awareness, decoding and encoding, is an essential part of literacy instruction supporting both reading and writing. Teachers in grades K-3 use Fundations for instruction in this area. Grades 4 and 5 focus on this work through Words Their Way and Just Words, along with supplemental instructional programs.  Phonemic awareness is directly instructed through Heggerty in K and 1 (and may continue beyond these grade levels for those student who need continued instruction). 

Writing

Students are encouraged to write across the curriculum- writing about their thinking in math, responding to text in writing during reading, and developing content based work in science and social studies is expected in K-5. Focus lessons and units of study guide the writing instruction. Writing time is a workshop model, allowing students to work at their own pace and work towards individualized goals. 

A trajectory has been written for each grade level which shows the progression of units taught and the Common Core Standards addressed with each unit. 

Math

The district is in its second year of Envision Math for grades 1-5. This curriculum was chosen after a pilot as it is closely to the Common Core Standards and aligned with our district-identified Essential Skills. 

Supplemental lessons and explorations are incorporated where appropriate to enhance math understanding and engagement.  Student mastery of facts and writing in response to mathematics are elements that are emphasized at each level. Intervention and enrichment opportunities are available to address student needs as well. 

A strong emphasis has been placed on Math Practices across grade levels. Students are encouraged to explain their mathematical thinking through a variety of teaching strategies.  Some examples include the use of 3 Act Tasks, Number Talks, and Which One Doesn't Belong. 

The district curriculum relies on Common Core Math Standards as its guide for all areas of math instruction. 

Science

Science learning begins long before children enter formal education. Their innate curiosity about the world and how it works prompts them to independently develop rudimentary forms of scientific investigations and design activities to find answers to their questions and solutions to their problems (NRC 2007). Effective elementary education recognizes and capitalizes on children's intrinsic interest in science and engineering, builds upon the initial concepts and strategies children have acquired, and provides an educational environment that allows those concepts and strategies to expand and deepen. 

Science instruction at LHS is grounded in the Next Generation Science Standards. Students are exposed to the science practices through grade level units of study and teachers strive to provide hands on experiences. Teachers work to help students not only understand science, but to engage in science.  

Social Studies

The social studies curriculum continues to be built around the NH Curriculum Framework published in 2006.   We’ve found that Social Studies provides great opportunities for teachers to teach in a cross-curricular way and creates excitement for learning through simulations, role play, inquiry, and engaging projects. Teachers value this content area for its content and instructional possibilities. Rich literature is embedded along the way and knowledge is displayed and highlighted through community events. 

Related Arts

Art

At Little Harbour art is taught to all students, grades K-5 on a weekly basis. Students learn concepts of drawing and design and build from the simplest ideas in kindergarten, to two and three-dimensional projects in Grade 5.  Principles of art, balance, repetition, harmony and unity are used to help students understand the world around them, while elements of art, such as line, shape, and form are defined and practiced. In class students work on being unique, and each person strives to do their best possible work. While practicing art, children and the teacher learn there are many "right" answers to a question or problem. 

Further exploration is provided through Art Club, which is offered during recess once a week for students in grade 5 for a portion of the year.

Music and Chorus

Grades K – 5 have music class weekly.  As often as possible, students are given performance opportunities at Little Harbour and throughout the district. By fourth grade, students begin studying/playing the recorder. This helps prepare them for instrumental lessons which are available to 5th grade students in the district.

We also have chorus for students in grades 4 and 5.  During this program, students meet as a whole grade level once a week to engage in music that is different from classroom instruction. The music is performed at an annual concert.  In addition to traditional choral and classroom music, our 5th graders are featured in our Annual Spring Musical.  During this experience, students learn about the many elements of putting together a musical and each student is given the opportunity to engage in the creation of the final production.  

Physical Education

Children in grades K-5 receive one physical education class weekly.  Children should wear sneakers or rubber soled shoes on days when they have physical education classes. As students progress through LHS, many unique fitness experiences are provided for each grade level such as ice skating, skate boarding, and climbing units. At the end of each school year, the whole school participates in our annual Field Day filled with fun, fitness and teamwork! 

Health

The goal of the school health program is to assist each student in developing a healthy lifestyle.  The classroom teacher and physical education teacher integrate health education and safety into the curriculum. A unit on human growth and development is taught to 5th grade students.  Parents are welcome to review any materials used in this program.

Library/Lab

The services of the library are an essential part of the educational program at Little Harbour School.  All classes are scheduled to use the library once a week and may check out books. Library and research skills are taught to 4th and 5th grade students. In addition to integrating technology in the classroom, students will have the chance to learn enhance their experience in lib/lab through games, having fun using technology, and engaging in STEAM activiites. Students may use iPads, robots, and Chromebooks as a part of their exploration.

Guidance 

Our values and beliefs regarding the importance of Social and Emotional development in elementary school are longstanding. Students in grades K-2 will have about one session monthly during the Twisty Tuesday rotation,  and students in grades 3-5 will have 6 sessions throughout the school year. Topics include social skills, problem-solving, respecting yourself and others, and self-regulation. 

Italian

Students in grades 3-5 will have a weekly Introduction to Italian session. Students will learn the language, and gain an appreciation for the culture through experiences and exploration.