Course Title:

Language Arts

 Faculty Name:  Mrs. Carol Pastor and Mrs. Toni Viscusi
Textbook:  TROPHIES (Language Handbook, Spelling + Interactive Instructional  Resources)
Publisher:  Harcourt
Copyright:  2007
Website:  www.harcourtschool.com

 Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

• investigate alliteration, haiku, limerick, onomatopoeia, and simile.
• study synonyms, antonyms, nouns, pronouns, capitalization and punctuation.
• use a dictionary or thesaurus and emphasize study skills.
• explore similes, metaphors and personification.
• Emphasize prefixes and suffixes to root words.

 Teaching Strategies Used
Students will:

• summarize and paraphrase
• explore multimedia presentations
• brainstorm and role play.
   

Special Features
Students will:

• write a poem or paragraph using sensory images.
• identify steps for preparing an oral report and present it following the steps.
• use a dictionary to find guide words; a thesaurus to find synonyms.
• prepare and conduct an interview; write a business letter.

Evaluations

• Diagnostic check points and assessment
• Journaling; writing handbook, rubrics
• Ongoing assessment, practice pages, etc.
• Checklist

Other descriptions

• There are supplemental workbooks and books that go along with this text.

Course Title:

Reading

Faculty Name:  Mrs. Carol Pastor

Textbook:  TROPHIES (DISTANT VOYAGES)

Publisher:  Harcourt

Copyright:  2007

Website:  www.harcourtschool.com

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

• work with word origins and word structure to determine and clarify meanings..
• make inferences and judgments, distinguish between fiction & nonfiction.
• investigate cause and effect, main ideas and detail.
• compare historical fiction with poetry.
• strengthen comprehension through author’s purpose and perspective.

Teaching Strategies Used

Students will:

• create mental images and use graphic aids for reference sources.
• make and confirm predictions, read orally to clarify specific events.
• work with storytelling and choral reading 

Special Features

Students will:

• be exposed to different text structures such as stories, poetry and informational books.
• support their interpretations with facts and specific examples.
• orally respond to literature.

Evaluations

• Diagnostic check points and assessment
• Vocabulary tests
• Ongoing assessment, practice pages, etc.

Other descriptions

• There are supplemental workbooks and books that go along with this text.

Course Title:

English

Faculty Name:  Mrs. Brandt

Textbook:  Distant Voyages

Publisher:  Harcourt

Copyright:  2007

Website:

Significant Curriculum Guidelines:

Students will:

• List steps for any process in chronological order.
• Write a paragraph observing these guidelines: write a topic sentence, develop one idea, and order sentences in sequence.
• Provide modifiers (adjectives and adverbs) to make sentences more descriptive.
• Rewrite simple sentences varying the word order of each.
• Write a poem or a paragraph using sensory images.
• Express ideas clearly in both written and oral communication.
• Use correct grammar.
• Use correct punctuation and capitalization.
• Apply and use library/research skills.

Teaching Strategies used

• active class participation
• comparing similarities and differences
• connect prior knowledge/learning
• cooperative learning
• differentiating instruction
• drill and practice
• homework
• note taking by students
• student worksheets
• use of technology
• vocabulary development
• diagramming sentences
• board work

Special Features

• Seasonal writings reflecting understanding of English concepts
• Group oral presentations demonstrating understanding of English concepts

Evaluations

• weekly checks of assignments in notebook
• periodic grading of homework
• evaluation of all work, including rough draft, revisions, and final paper
• quizzes
• chapter tests

Course Title:

Science

Faculty Name:  Mrs. Brandt

Textbook:  Scott Foresman: Science

Publisher:  Pearson-Scott Foresman

Copyright:  2008

Workbook:  Scott Foresman:  Science Workbook

Publisher:  Pearson-Scott Foresman

Copyright:  2008

Website:  www.pearsonsuccessnet.com

Significant Curriculum Guidelines:

Students will:

• Investigate and understand that organisms are made of cells and have distinguishing characteristics
• Differentiate basic cell structures and their functions
• Explore how every organism has a set of genetic instructions that determines its inherited traits
• Understand that the human body is made of systems with structures and related functions
• Understand and utilize the classification system
• Distinguish vascular and nonvascular plants and vertebrates and invertebrates
• Examine interrelationships of plant and animal kingdoms
• Investigate and understand the properties and characteristics of matter
• Examine atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds
• Analyze the effect of heat on matter
• Realize that reusing, recycling, and reducing the use of natural resources improve and protect the quality of life
• Identify and explain the principles of force and motion
• Conduct investigations where data is collected, recorded, and reported, and predictions made (use the scientific method)
• Identify and use the elements of scientific inquiry to solve problems
• Investigate and understand how the Earth’s surface is constantly changing
• Examine the behavior and impact of the earth’s water systems
• Describe essential ideas about the composition and structure of the universe and the earth’s place in it
• Describe diversity of plants and animals in ecosystems and how species of living organisms adapt to their environment
• Display open-mindedness to new ideas and base decisions on evidence

 Teaching Strategies used

• Large group instruction
• Small group instruction
• Guided reading
• Visual aids
• Hands-on activities
• Reviews
• Experiments
• Note taking
• Standardized test preparation
• Written responses
• Internet assignments
• In-class projects
• Independent class work
• Quizzes
• Tests

 Special Features

• Hands-on activities and experiments
• Awareness of current scientific knowledge through the reading and discussion of the magazine, Science Blue

 Evaluations

• Independent class work
• Periodic check of notebooks
• In-class projects
• Quizzes
• Tests

Course Title:

Math

Faculty Name:  Mrs. Carol Pastor

Textbook:  Progress in Mathematics

Publisher:  Sadlier-Oxford

Copyright:  2009

Website:  www.sadlier-oxford.com

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

Students will:

• understand number patterns, graphing and functions.
• learn how to analyze characteristics and properties of two and three-dimensional geometric shapes.
  
• work with meanings of operations, place value and decimals.
• interpret different meanings for fractions, parts of a whole, parts of a set, etc.
• explore geometry by classifying triangles, polygons, etc.
• create and use appropriate problem-solving strategies.
• analyze date using the concepts of largest, smallest, most often, etc.
• develop and apply number theory concepts (primes, factors, multiples...)
• apply estimation strategies to a variety of problems including time and money.
• organize and display date using pictures, tallies, tables, charts, bar graphs, etc.

Teaching Strategies Used

Students will:

• have guided group instruction.
• use rulers, protractors and compasses to measure angles, diameter, etc.
• work cooperatively for problem solving.
  
• use the chalkboard to solve daily functions in class.

Special Features

Students will:

• have daily timed drill exercises to reinforce basic facts.
• learn the techniques for writing to explain and describe word problems.
• use manipulatives for basic skill facts and enrichment activities.

Evaluations

• weekly assessment quizzes or tests.
• claasswork and homework practice sheets.
  
• Open-ended responses – “Writing in Math”

Other descriptions

• There are supplemental workbooks and enrichment masters to enhance the program.

Course Title:

Social Studies

Faculty Name:           Mrs. Patricia Brandt

Textbook:                  The United States

Publisher:                   Scott Foresman

Copyright:                  2008

Website:                     www.sfsocialstudies.com

Significant Curriculum Guidelines

 Students will study:

·          the first civilizations:  Native American cultures

·         exploration and early settlements of North America by the Spanish, French, Dutch and English

·         colonization of the 13 original colonies; religious freedom

·         geography of land – how natural resources influence the occupation of settlers

·         roots of self-government; Mayflower Compact

·         taxes levied on the colonies to help pay England’s debt for the French and Indian war; The American Revolution

·         House of Burgesses – first representative assembly in American colonies

·         facts about our presidents and our 50 states

·         battles of Lexington & Concord, Bunker Hill & Saratoga

·         map and globe skills and timelines.  Included also are charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, etc.

Teaching Strategies Used

·         lectures

·         use of globes & wall maps

·         student oral presentations

·         current events – Scholastic News

·         graphic organizers

·         cooperative learning (small groups)

·         field trips

Special Features

Students will use materials provided by the Carnegie Museum of National History in the study of  people, culture, and natural resources of the United States.

 Evaluations:

·         Oral and written tests; quizzes

·         Class participation; homework

·         Oral presentations & projects