CURRICULUM
CURRICULUM
Wakefield's vision for ELA teaching and learning:
Every student within the Wakefield Public Schools will have an equitable experience with high quality literacy instruction and evidence-based curriculum in an inclusive and culturally responsive learning environment. They will develop strong reading, writing, speaking and listening skills and thrive in classrooms that promote inquiry, discourse, collaboration, and critical thinking. Students will graduate as empowered 21st century citizens, ready to make a difference in their world.
As educators we believe all students can achieve at the highest levels when challenged with complex and authentic literacy experiences. In order to foster independence, we encourage risk taking and productive struggle while providing the opportunity for students to explore a wide variety of perspectives. It is our collective responsibility to meet the diverse needs of our learners and ensure literacy success for every student in the Wakefield Public Schools.
Wakefield uses EL Education as the core resource for ELA instruction.
EL Family Resources (multiple languages)
For foundational literacy skills, Wakefield uses Fundations
Wakefield's vision for mathematics teaching and learning:
Every student in the Wakefield Public Schools has an equitable experience with high quality mathematics teaching and curriculum. They graduate as confident problem solvers, ready to make an impact on their world.
Educators engage students of every background and ability with tasks that inspire curiosity. Our students thrive in classrooms where reasoning, collaboration, productive struggle, and problem solving are expected. Educators believe that all students can achieve at the highest levels of math; we partner with families and the community and hold ourselves accountable for the success of every student.
Wakefield uses the program Illustrative Mathematics as the core resource for mathematics instruction.
IM Family Resources (multiple languages)
In addition to the core program, students use ST Math as a digital supplement. The goal for each Grade 3 student is to complete 60 puzzles per week.
Wakefield's vision for science, technology, and engineering teaching and learning:
Every student in Wakefield Public Schools has an equitable experience with an engaging, hands-on science, technology, and engineering (STE) curriculum that ignites curiosity and fosters critical thinking.
In our student-centered STE classes, learners collaboratively engage with the science and engineering practices to make sense of relevant phenomena. Students are supported and empowered to ethically navigate real-world problems and make evidence-based decisions in their ever-changing world.
Graduates of Wakefield Public Schools are scientifically literate, globally aware, connected with their community, and prepared to pursue future STE opportunities.
In Grade 3, students have two science lessons each week with a science teacher who pushes into their class. These lessons prioritize hands-on learning and support students to learn science by doing science. Most science content is learned in these science blocks, while some content is learned during ELA instruction.
Focus areas for Grade 3 STE:
Understand connections among humans, earth systems, and the environment. For example, think about how people can reduce damage caused by weather.
Understand the different life cycles of plants and animals. For example, compare the life cycles of a sunflower, a bird, and a frog.
Understand life and environments that existed on Earth long ago. For example, use fossils to understand that some types of plants and animals no longer exist.
Understand the concept of force and how forces sometimes balance each other out. For example, explore how magnets push or pull each other.
In 2018, Massachusetts updated the curriculum frameworks for History and Social Science. In Wakefield, the next content area up for curriculum review will be social studies.
Currently, Grade 3 students are evaluated on the following content on their report cards:
Observe and describe local and regional historic artifacts and sites and generate questions about their function, construction, and significance
Use cardinal directions, map scales, legends, and titles to locate places on contemporary maps of New England, Massachusetts, and local community
Define specialization in jobs and businesses and give examples of specialized businesses in the community
Give examples of why it is necessary for communities to have governments (e.g. governments provide order and protect rights)
Give examples of the different ways people in a community can influence their local government (e.g. by voting, running for office, or participating in meetings).
Physical Education, Health and Wellness
Art
Music
Library Media
Library Media Curriculum