Private School Curriculum
Welcome to Meadow Oaks Academy Elementary School. Our purpose at Meadow Oaks Academy is to provide our children with a firm foundation in skills of reading, phonics, spelling, language, math, science, and social studies. Music, physical education, computer instruction, Spanish and art balance out our program. Our goals for each child include not only academic achievement but also development of good work habits and independent study skills. We want each child to develop a positive self image and productive problem solving skills to become all that he or she can be. We have implemented a curriculum and program to foster that positive outlook.
All Private School Programs are rounded with :
* Theater
* Art
* Physical Education
* Spanish
* High Tech
Pre-School Curriculum
Our Pre-School Curriculum is a theme-based, developmental curriculum.
By “developmental”, we mean that our curriculum is designed to help children grow in six domains of development. These domains are:
* Affective (or feelings, values, psychological strengths)
* Social (interactions with others)
* Creative (what is new to you)
* Language (communication)
* Cognitive (thinking)
* Physical (doing)
Classes & Programs:
Open Court Reading: Open Court Reading focuses on the foundations, including:
* Phonics,* Phonemic awareness,
* Sounds/Letters,
* Word knowledge,
* Letter names,
* Sounds & Spellings
are learned in a careful sequence that enables students to read real words as soon as possible. Continual, systematic practice and review of key skills ensure mastery.
Everyday Math:Everyday Math in Kindergarten is an activity based program where the children create many products such as:
*Patterns
*Graphs
*Measurements
*Sorting and so on
Children learn and practice all the basic facts in many different ways without having to complete an overwhelming number of drill pages. Kindergarteners play mathematical games in which numbers are generated randomly by dice, dominoes, spinners or cards
Open Court Reading: The Open Court Reading program in 1st grade includes a variety of unique components that help students become confident and competent in their ability to read and understand language. The many different types of literature they encounter in their Student Anthologies ensure fluency and comprehension in reading skills.
Spelling Words: 1st graders are tested over spelling words weekly and this focus builds word meaning, word patterns and fosters proofreading.
Everyday Math: Everyday mathematics for 1st grade capitalizes the student’s interest and maximizes learning through a wide variety of concepts and skills development. Mathematics to 1st graders is meaningful because it is varied in its approach, rich and rooted in real world problems and applications.
Science and Social Studies: Science and Social Studies are thematic which engage active student centered participation.
Open Court Reading:The Open Court Reading literature provides the foundation of lessons taught in 2nd grade. Guided practices include comprehension skills and strategies, spelling and vocabulary, writing process strategies and English language conventions all connect to daily learning experiences. Classic and contemporary literature works together to broaden student’s perspectives in 2nd grade.
Spelling Vocbulary: 2nd graders greatly expand upon their spelling vocabularies through study of word roots, word origins, prefixes, suffixes, and other new elements. Students spelling assessments are in paragraph form which advances formal writing.
Everyday Math: Everyday mathematics for 2nd grade features problem solving for everyday situations, developing readiness through hands-on activities, establishing links between past experiences and explorations of new concepts. Students practice math skills through games which allow them to attain mastery of concepts
Science: 2nd grade participate in the Science Fair each year and explore concepts through hands on activities
Social Studies: Social Studies teach the students the basics of geography, economics and citizenship in the context of learning about their communities.
Open Court Reading:The Open Court Reading, English, & Language Arts programs in 3rd grade allows the students support as they transition into reading the learn. The anthologies are filled with literature that includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry and informational articles. Teaching comprehension strategies helps prepare students to master both content textbooks and other varieties of literature. English learning units provide structure for lessons with writing, drawing inferences, paragraphing and rewriting. Students also practice expository and narrative writing.
Spelling Vocbulary: Spelling includes a variety of activities to help students recognize and apply spelling patterns. Each student will have assessments weekly.
Everyday Math: Everyday mathematics for 3rd grade builds on previous skills taught to assure that skills are retained and expanded. Concepts are developed in different contexts to help students recognize the natural connections to other concepts. Explorations provide the benefits of cooperative learning which allows the students hands on activities. Frequent practice of basic skills through ongoing routines ensures full concept development.
Science: 3rd grade participate in the Science Fair each year and explore daily concepts through hands on projects.
Social Studies: Students engage in Social Studies as they interact with economics, geography, political science and history.
Open Court Reading:Reading aloud is one of the best ways for students to develop their reading skills. In the course of the daily lessons, students will read orally from the student anthology selections. For students to become more than competent decoders, they must become strategic readers. That is, they must learn how to think about what they read and use specific reading strategies. Open court offers first rate reading selections that illustrate for students the best possible use of language and stimulate them to think about, write about and discuss important ideas and concepts.
Spelling Vocbulary: Daily spelling activities strengthen comprehension with classifications and analogies. The spelling units, linking words to meanings, are effective in teaching students not only how to spell but also how to comprehend word meanings and master most often misspelled words. Each student will have weekly spelling assessments.
Everyday Math: Everyday mathematics for 4th grade emphasizes a problem solving approach based on everyday situations that develops critical thinking. Student’s activities allow them to explore a wide variety of mathematical content and offer opportunities to apply their knowledge. 4th grader mathematics uses games to help students develop good fact power and other math skills. Everyday math offers students a broad and rich experience in fostering the development of mathematical understanding.
Science: 4th grade participates in the yearly Science Fair. Student’s exposure to “See First” science units helps understanding and applying difficult concepts. It provides an essential foundation for information about Earth, Life, Physical and Health sciences.
Social Studies: Social Studies include interaction with the people, places and events that structured our nation. The units of studies features geography of the U.S., Native Americans, Early English settlements, The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and other key events that influenced our history.
Open Court Reading:Open Court Reading is built on a solid foundation of nearly forty years of research. Open Court Reading provides strong authorship, a systematic, explicit instructional plan, literature with a purpose differentiating instruction for meeting students individual needs and proven research based instruction. Students are most successful when they learn through a balance of systematic direct instruction. Open Court student anthologies provides a survey course of literature exposing students to a variety of different writing styles and genres. This well balance reading program teaches student not only how to strategically read, but also how to comprehend and make the most of reading content.
Spelling Vocbulary: Daily spelling activities strengthen comprehension with classifications and analogies. The spelling units, linking words to meanings, are effective in teaching students not only how to spell but also how to comprehend word meanings and master most often misspelled words. Each student will have weekly spelling assessments.
Everyday Math: The Fifth grade Everyday Math instructional design is carefully crafted to capitalize on students interest and maximize student learning. Daily activities explore a wide variety of mathematical content and offer opportunities for students to apply their knowledge. Everyday Mathematics emphasizes a problem solving approach based on everyday situation that develop critical thinking.
Science: Real Science for fifth graders is carefully crafted that allows students a technology enhanced presentation of essential science knowledge, vocabulary and skills. "See First" science units helps understanding and applying difficult concepts. It provides an essential foundation for information concerning Earth, Life, Physical and Health Sciences. Every fifth grader participates in the science fair.
History and Geography: History Alive! The United states through Industrialism The units of study consists of a series of instructional practices that allows students to experience key social studies concepts. Multiple intelligence strategies engage students in visual discovery, experiential exercises, writing for understanding, response groups and problem solving group work.
Curriculum Components
- Alpha Time – Phon ics of Letters A to Z. We start with easy consonants then we go to the vowel sounds, and then we concentrate on the hard consonants.
Consists of:
* Video – Alpha time takes characters through Alpha Land – a 30minute video.
* Alpha Books – Books that are read to the children during morning circle time to encourage phonics given during story time.
* Alpha Time Songs – Phonetic songs that are sung during every circle time and music time.
*Little Book Series – A fun way of encouraging the love of reading, used
to build confidence and creativity in books. We will read a new book every two weeks. They create the book and decorate the book therefore they take ownership in the book.
* Creative Arts – An activity that is included into the Alphabet Letter of the week.
* activities are repeated every day
- DLM – Daily Learning Module – Thematic units used to create conversation and creativity in learning science, social studies, and math. Each unit will have fun hands on learning activities taught through the five senses.
- DLM Express Math – Computerized program used to teach mathematical concepts at a child’s own pace. Always done with a manipulative to teach concepts dimensionally.
- One Minute Math – A one-minute math activity is done during circle time each day to encourage mathematical learning.
- Letter Math Activities –A fun folder game that teaches matching, sequencing, patterning along with the phonetic letter that is being taught.
- No Tears Writing – A fabulous writing curriculum used to make writing fun, while exercising the muscles used in writing and using the correct vocabulary that makes this fun and exciting.
- High Tech Kids – Computer –A 30 minutes computer activity that encourages the proper terms used for computer parts and proper use of the computer. We do fun activities that teach responsibility and encourage math and reading skills.
- Music – Children learn through songs, finger plays, chants and rhymes. Example: songs are used for transitions to learn colors, days of the week, months of the year, Spanish numbers and colors, weather, etc…
This list will continue to infinity songs make learning fun an exciting. The Letter People sing their way through Letter Land!! *Proverb: Everything done in a rhyme saves time!
- P.E. – Daily jumper activities that encourage crossing over mid-line in order to exercise their bodies and brains.
* Nutrition – We encourage the children to eat healthy by offering lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. We also like to eliminate sugar products by replacing with fresh fruits and vegetables. With your help this will be a great success. When possible our meals are cooked from scratch. We have learned that through studies done by Barbara Stitt that food affects the way our children behave and that natural organic foods are better for our children.
* Water - As we all know water is good for us. We have a water filtering system that allows fresh water in the rooms for more water breaks throughout the day.
Curriculum Components
*Creative Resources - This curriculum is based on themes, therefore using the thematic approach to teaching young children.
* Theme Goals
* Concepts for the children to learn
* Vocabulary
* Music & Finger Plays that use rhyming and melodic that make learning fun thru repetition.
* Sensory Activities
* Math
* Science
* Arts & Crafts
* Group Games
* Cooking Activities
*Active Learning for Threes – This curriculum is designed to create activities for:
* Listening and Talking
* Physical Development
* Creative Development
* Learning from the world around them
*Count on Math – Activities for small hands and lively minds.
* Teaches mathematical concepts according to the weeks needed.
* Exploration of Materials – 8 weeks
* Spatial Relationships – 8 weeks
* Classification – 10 weeks
* One-to-One Correspondence – 8 weeks
* Ordering – 4 weeks
*No Tears Writing – A fabulous writing curriculum used to make writing fun, while exercising the muscles used in writing and using the correct vocabulary that makes this fun and exciting.
Curriculum Components
Our curriculum is designed to aid in development of language, growth of vocabulary, increasing coordination, refining large and small motor skills, cognitive development and the development of social skills.
Our activity areas include:
*Body Building: These activities offer opportunities to refine physical strength, coordination and awareness whether for a specific body part r the whole body.
*Brain Power: These activities provide opportunities to develop toddlers beginning analytical abilities. They promote understanding of cause and effect, sorting and grouping, problem solving, and other cognitive challenges.
*Finger Plays: Hand gestures used with songs or poems promote toddlers comprehension of emergent forms and symbols.
*Language Development: These activities go beyond naming objects and actions. They help toddlers develop vocal range, listening skills, and language understanding. They help toddlers begin to understand language and form a foundation for expressive communication.
*Musical Exercises and Songs: As far as toddlers are concerned, everyone is a singer! Toddlers singing helps develop vocal range, expression, and speech.
*Naming and Describing: Toddlers want to know more than just the names of things. They want to know how they are used and what they mean. These exercises help toddlers identify objects and actions and understand their purpose and meaning.
*Rhythmic Exercises and Poems: These help to motivate toddler and to develop physical coordination and a sense of pleasure. Our poems combine words or sounds and actions!
*Sensory Development: Sensory exercises can be used to help toddlers explore and understand the world around them.
*Social Skills: As toddlers learn to communicate with others these activities will help enhance social interactions.
*Well Being: Well being refers to toddlers’ emotional growth, self esteem, and those qualities that add up to contentment. These activities are for the sole purpose of helping the toddler to feel extra special, trusting, playful or secure.