ACADEMICS
Curriculum description
Curriculum description
Social Studies: Passport to Social Studies
Social Studies: Passport to Social Studies
Elementary students engage in interdisciplinary studies through the use of the Passport to Social Studies curriculum. Students are able to make sense of the world in which they live, make connections between major ideas and their own lives and see themselves as active members of a global community. Our rigorous instruction challenges students to think like historians, encourages them to raise questions, think critically and consider different perspectives. With units of study developed with both student and teacher input, our young learners are able to make connections to their school and home communities, identify the importance of civic responsibility, discuss how families change over time and learn to navigate our world through an understanding of geographic concepts.
Elementary students engage in interdisciplinary studies through the use of the Passport to Social Studies curriculum. Students are able to make sense of the world in which they live, make connections between major ideas and their own lives and see themselves as active members of a global community. Our rigorous instruction challenges students to think like historians, encourages them to raise questions, think critically and consider different perspectives. With units of study developed with both student and teacher input, our young learners are able to make connections to their school and home communities, identify the importance of civic responsibility, discuss how families change over time and learn to navigate our world through an understanding of geographic concepts.
Science: Amplify Science
Science: Amplify Science
Our immersive science instruction blends hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools to empower students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists and engineers. Our budding scientists engage in research and experimentation to help answer questions about plant and animal survival, investigate components of physics such as light, sound and force and deepen their understanding of attributes of earth science.
Our immersive science instruction blends hands-on investigations, literacy-rich activities, and interactive digital tools to empower students to think, read, write, and argue like real scientists and engineers. Our budding scientists engage in research and experimentation to help answer questions about plant and animal survival, investigate components of physics such as light, sound and force and deepen their understanding of attributes of earth science.
Math: Go Math
Math: Go Math
Math instruction at P.S 51 focuses on conceptual mastery of key ideas to prepare students for the demands of the future. Along with our use of Go Math, a standards aligned research-based curriculum, our teachers develop rigorous tasks to fully engage students in critical thinking and discussion of mathematical concepts. Each lesson begins with students engaging in productive struggle while applying previously learned content to solve relevant word problems. Students then collaborate with peers and teachers to fortify their understanding and learn new skills. Differentiation and discussion are featured throughout all lessons to ensure the needs of all students are met.
Math instruction at P.S 51 focuses on conceptual mastery of key ideas to prepare students for the demands of the future. Along with our use of Go Math, a standards aligned research-based curriculum, our teachers develop rigorous tasks to fully engage students in critical thinking and discussion of mathematical concepts. Each lesson begins with students engaging in productive struggle while applying previously learned content to solve relevant word problems. Students then collaborate with peers and teachers to fortify their understanding and learn new skills. Differentiation and discussion are featured throughout all lessons to ensure the needs of all students are met.
ELA/Reading
ELA/Reading
Our balanced literacy approach to instruction allows our teachers to develop units of study that incorporate all components of reading and writing. Fundations and Heggerty ground our work in phonics and phonemic awareness. Our instructional practices allow students to engage in fun age appropriate routines to strengthen their decoding skills. Shared reading and guided reading instruction provide students with specific foundational grammar, decoding and comprehension skills to be applied when independently reading and writing. Assessment of students’ mastery of skills is achieved through teacher-developed reading and writing tasks which encourages students to share their opinions, cultural heritage and newly learned information.
Our balanced literacy approach to instruction allows our teachers to develop units of study that incorporate all components of reading and writing. Fundations and Heggerty ground our work in phonics and phonemic awareness. Our instructional practices allow students to engage in fun age appropriate routines to strengthen their decoding skills. Shared reading and guided reading instruction provide students with specific foundational grammar, decoding and comprehension skills to be applied when independently reading and writing. Assessment of students’ mastery of skills is achieved through teacher-developed reading and writing tasks which encourages students to share their opinions, cultural heritage and newly learned information.
Physical Education
Physical Education
Physical health and movement are essential to the development of our students. The Physical Education program at P.S. 51 aims to develop students’ physical competence and knowledge of movement and safety. Students learn about the benefits of exercise and healthy eating while engaging in group sports and activities that improve their muscle strength and gross motor skills. Health education is coupled with P.E. to help our young learners understand the best ways to promote health and prevent diseases. The combination of physical and health education exposes students to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and promotes health and wellness in their lives outside of school.
Physical health and movement are essential to the development of our students. The Physical Education program at P.S. 51 aims to develop students’ physical competence and knowledge of movement and safety. Students learn about the benefits of exercise and healthy eating while engaging in group sports and activities that improve their muscle strength and gross motor skills. Health education is coupled with P.E. to help our young learners understand the best ways to promote health and prevent diseases. The combination of physical and health education exposes students to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and promotes health and wellness in their lives outside of school.
ENL
ENL
Multilingual Learners are provided with full day instruction from certified English as a New Language teachers. Instruction heavily focuses on vocabulary and language development in all content areas. Teachers develop tasks that give students the opportunity to collaborate and share ideas and customs from their own individual cultures. The ENL program features a unique instructional block dedicated to oral language development. This provides students within the entire spectrum of language acquisition, the opportunity to practice their skills and receive explicit instruction and feedback from the teacher. Digital platforms such as Imagine Learning and Raz-Kids are used to ensure students are able to engage in content through different entry points and languages.
Multilingual Learners are provided with full day instruction from certified English as a New Language teachers. Instruction heavily focuses on vocabulary and language development in all content areas. Teachers develop tasks that give students the opportunity to collaborate and share ideas and customs from their own individual cultures. The ENL program features a unique instructional block dedicated to oral language development. This provides students within the entire spectrum of language acquisition, the opportunity to practice their skills and receive explicit instruction and feedback from the teacher. Digital platforms such as Imagine Learning and Raz-Kids are used to ensure students are able to engage in content through different entry points and languages.
Visual Arts
Visual Arts
At P.S. 51 we believe in investing in art education as it allows our students to experiment and build their confidence while exploring their own creativity. All students engage in visual arts classes 1-2 times a week, during which they learn about important figures in art history and utilize various mediums to create original pieces. Students learn how to critique art by clarifying thoughts, ideas and feelings through speaking, listening and vocabulary development. Our art instructors consistently encourage students to identify what appeals to them and reflect on how their individual likes and dislikes influence their artistic choices.
At P.S. 51 we believe in investing in art education as it allows our students to experiment and build their confidence while exploring their own creativity. All students engage in visual arts classes 1-2 times a week, during which they learn about important figures in art history and utilize various mediums to create original pieces. Students learn how to critique art by clarifying thoughts, ideas and feelings through speaking, listening and vocabulary development. Our art instructors consistently encourage students to identify what appeals to them and reflect on how their individual likes and dislikes influence their artistic choices.