BRPS has recently adopted the American Reading Company's ARC Core curriculum. ARC Core is one of the highest rated reading curriculums to address ALL the reading and writing common core standards and is research based. ARC Core has a systematic approach to ensure that EVERY student can READ, WRITE and THINK on grade level. It incorporates reading skills and writing skills with engaging core novels, new leveled classroom library books, and engaging writing activities related to the core novels we read. There are small group lessons for students who may need extra support. Different units also incorporate our science and social studies’ learning standards. ARC is divided into 4 units or labs and each unit takes about 8-10 weeks to explore.
Unit 1
ARC Literacy Lab (Maps)
* Building A Community of Avid Readers and Writers.
Unit 2
Informational Reading Lab (Animals)
* Writing and Research in one Science or Social Studies Grade Level Topic
Unit 3
Literature Reading Lab (Family Stories)
* Writing and Analysis in one literary genre
Unit 4
Argument Writing Lab (Plants)
* Writing and Research in one science or social studies
ARC Core components and materials are designed to meet students where they are academically and help them grow successfully. First, we need to figure out their Independent Reading Level using the IRLA (Independent Reading Level Assessment). A student's Independent Reading Level is the level in which they can read comfortably without a lot of help. The IRLA has different screeners that allow teachers to listen to their students read and pinpoint areas in which they may need support. This area/skill would become their Power Goal to focus on in small group. When all of this is figured out, we can print an IRLA Home Update with details about your child as a reader, book suggestions that best fit your child, and things you can do at home to support their growth.
Each ARC Core Independent Reading Level has it's own color that corresponds to sets of books at those levels. To support optimal growth, we encourage students to read books from their level book bin. However, we do not want to squash the love of reading by forcing kids to read what they may not be interested in. During independent reading time, students can choose any level they wish to read from as long as they are an engaged reader. Students will also choose books from these bins to bring home each night for home reading.
100 Book (Step) Club Challenge
Your student will begin ARC’s “100 Book Club Challenge!” in Week 5 of Unit 1. This is an exciting and engaging challenge that will incorporate reading both at home and at school. For every 15 minutes they read, they earn a step. The goal is to be reading for 30 minutes at school and 30 minutes at home, giving students 4 steps a day. Research states that the more kids read, the better they will become as a reader. You will also see their vocabulary grow and test scores increase.
We like to recognize students hard work when they reach 100 steps, 200 steps, and so on. I have little awards to put on their lockers, certificates they will receive from me, and they will get to see their name posted down by the office to show their milestones. We will also have a tracking system in the classroom so kids can see their growth.
Everyday Mathematics is an elementary school mathematics curriculum developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. Here are some features of the First Grade Everyday Mathematics program:
Children learn basic skills by solving problems based on everyday situations. They connect their own knowledge to their experiences both within and outside of school. Through these meaningful situations, children learn basic skills as mathematics becomes “real.”
Children practice basic skills in a variety of engaging ways. They complete daily practice covering a variety of topics, find patterns on the number line, work with addition and subtraction facts, and play games that are designed to develop basic skills.
Children revisit concepts over the course of the year. To improve the development of basic skills and concepts, children regularly revisit concepts and repeatedly practice skills that have been taught earlier. The lessons are designed to build on concepts and skills throughout the year instead of treating topics in isolated sections.
First Grade Everyday Mathematics emphasizes the following topics:
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Representing and solving problems involving addition and subtraction; understanding and applying properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction to these problems; adding and subtracting within 20; and working with addition and subtraction equations
Number and Operation in Base Ten
Extending the counting sequence; understanding place value; and using place-value understandings and properties of operations to add and subtract within 100
Measurement and Data
Measuring lengths; telling and writing time; and representing and interpreting data
Geometry
Reasoning with shapes and their features
Mystery Science offers open-and-go online video lessons that inspire kids to love science. Whether you have just 5-10 minutes in the day, or can devote an hour or more a week to teaching science, we make it easy for you to help children stay curious!
Offering both 5-minute mini-lessons and hour-long, hands-on lessons which are NGSS-aligned for Kindergarten through 5th grade, Mystery Science strives to offer resources that can help a variety of teachers make science more engaging. The lessons are easy to prep, using mostly materials you have on hand in the classroom or at home.
You don't need to be a science expert, or even a teacher, to get started with Mystery Science! Our expertly narrated videos use story-telling and amazing visuals to keep your students engaged. We even build classroom management right into the lessons, providing timers, step-by-step activity guides, and helping pair up students.
Michigan Open Books are Open Education Resources created by the Michigan Open Book Project. Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that are freely available online for everyone to use, whether you are an instructor, student or self-learner. This project began in 2014 as part of the Technology Readiness Infrastructure Grant (TRIG) and is designed to give kids a first exposure to the content that they will learn about in their social studies courses. Funded by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), the MI Open Book resources were created by teachers from around the state who have taught their content for many years. They are edited and maintained by professionals from the field of Social Studies which include ISD consultants, university faculty, and district curriculum leaders who all have extensive background knowledge in their content. It is a true collaboration of k-12 and higher education.
Mind + Heart K-2 by Proud to Be Primary
What units are included in the mind+heart SEL curriculum?
Emotions
Unit 1: Identifying and labeling; What causes emotions; Expressing emotions; Labelling experiences.
Self-Management
Unit 2: self-regulation & ways to calm down; self-control, and self-esteem.
Growth Mindset
Unit 3: fixed vs. growth mindset; the elastic brain; effort & perseverance; failure, mistakes & challenges.
Relationships
Unit 4: communication - listening & speaking; friendship; teamwork & cooperation; sharing & taking turns.
Social Awareness
Unit 5: how feelings & behaviors affect others; developing & displaying empathy; building a community of compassion.
Kindness
Unit 6: what is kindness - ways to show; what to say; caring for others; kindness challenge; generosity; Bucket Filling.
Respect
Unit 7: what is respect? Ways to show respect, honesty, gratitude, & acceptance.
Responsibility
Unit 8: responsibility; peaceful problem solving; goal setting; anti-bullying.