Academics

Reading Comprehension: The core resource for comprehension instruction is the Making Meaning program.  

The Making Meaning units of study in kindergarten include:

• The Reading life
• Making Connections
• Retelling
• Visualizing
• Wondering: Fictional and Narrative Non-fiction
• Making Connections: Expository Nonfiction
• Wondering: Expository Non-fiction
• Exploring Text Features: Expository Nonfiction
• Revisiting the Reading life

Vocabulary: The Making Meaning Vocabulary supplement teaches high-utility words found in the Making Meaning read-aloud texts along with strategies students can use to unlock word meanings when they are reading independently. 

Writing: Written language instruction is based on Being a Writer.

Units of study in kindergarten include:

• The Writing Community
• Getting Ideas
• Telling More
• Just the Facts
• Exploring Words Through Poetry
• Revisiting the Writing Community

Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction: The purpose of guided reading is for students to have time to read and apply strategies and skills that were demonstrated by the teacher during read aloud and shared reading instruction. 
 

Foundational Skills: Wilson Fundations includes an integrated handwriting component that allows teachers to use a multi-sensory approach to teach how a letter looks, sounds and is formed.
 

Math in Focus is a K-8 comprehensive mathematics program published by Marshall Cavendish. The instructional approaches emphasize real-world, hands on experiences through a concrete-pictorial-abstract learning progression. For more information about Math in Focus, visit the Math in Focus website.

Kindergarten students will use the Exploring the World Set which focuses on 3 units of study:

• Exploring Forces and Motion
• Exploring Plants and Animals
• Exploring My Weather.

Descriptions of the modules can be found on the Carolina Curriculum website.

Students take a close look at the importance of building a community and the importance of establishing rules in their community.  

Major Units of Study:

• Community Building, Civics and National Symbols
• Holidays and Family Traditions/Economics
• Connections to History/US Government/Geography and World Cultures

Reading Comprehension: The core resource for comprehension instruction is the Making Meaning program. 

The Making Meaning units of study in First Grade include:

• The Reading Life: Fiction and Narrative Nonfiction
• Retelling and Story Elements (fiction)
• Making Connections (fiction) and Understanding Character
• Visualizing with Multiple Genres (poetry and fiction)
• Wondering: Fictional and Narrative Non-fiction
• Growing and Changing our Thinking Through Expository Nonfiction
• Wondering, Making Connections and Activating Schema
• Exploring Text Features: Expository Nonfiction
• Informational Book Club
• Revisiting the Reading life


Vocabulary: The Making Meaning Vocabulary supplement teaches high-utility words found in the Making Meaning read-aloud texts along with strategies students can use to unlock word meanings when they are reading independently. 


Writing: Written language instruction is based on Being a Writer.



Units of study in First Grade include:

• The Writing Community
• Getting Ideas
• Telling More
• Writing Stories About Me
• Writing Nonfiction
• Exploring Words Through Poetry
• Revisiting the Writing Community

Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction: The purpose of guided reading is for students to have time to read and apply strategies and skills that were demonstrated by the teacher during read aloud and shared reading instruction.



Foundational Skills: Wilson Fundations includes an integrated handwriting component that allows teachers to use a multi-sensory approach to teach how a letter looks, sounds and is formed.
 

Math in Focus is a K-8 comprehensive mathematics program published by Marshall Cavendish. The instructional approaches emphasize real-world, hands on experiences through a concrete-pictorial-abstract learning progression. For more information about Math in Focus, visit the Math in Focus website.

First grade students will use three science modules that focus on the content areas of science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, and Life Science. Descriptions of the modules are available on the Carolina Curriculum website.

Units of Study:

• The Life Cycle of Butterflies
• Weather
• Solids & Liquids

Students will get an introductory look into many facets that help to shape a community such as individual and group responsibility and contribution, geography, and economics. Students who have a firm grasp of the role of individuals in community and how communities function can make informed decisions regarding their own behavior and how their actions impact the community. 

Major Units of Study:

• Community Building and Civics
• Geography and Culture
• US Historical Figures and Landmarks

Texts/Resources: Social Studies Alive! My School and Family

Reading Comprehension: The core resource for comprehension instruction is the Making Meaning program.

The Making Meaning units of study in Second Grade include:

• The Reading Life: Fiction and Narrative Nonfiction
• Making Connections: Fiction, Visualizing and Story Elements
• Making Inferences and Following Characters Through Text
• Self Questioning as a Means to Interact with the Author
• Text Features: Exploring the Structures of Nonfiction Texts
• Determining Importance
• Book Clubs
• Revisiting the Reading life

Vocabulary: The Making Meaning Vocabulary supplement teaches high-utility words found in the Making Meaning read-aloud texts along with strategies students can use to unlock word meanings when they are reading independently.

Writing: Written language instruction is based on Being a Writer.

Units of study in Second Grade include:

• The Writing Community
• Telling More
• Fiction
• Nonfiction
• Letter Writing
• Poems and Words
• Revisiting the Writing Community

Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction: The purpose of guided reading is for students to have time to read and apply strategies and skills that were demonstrated by the teacher during read aloud and shared reading instruction. 

Foundational Skills: In second grade, Fountas and Pinnell Phonics Lessons 2:  Letters, words and how they work serve as the core of the word study program. 

Handwriting:  Cursive writing is introduced in second grade using the Zaner Bloser Handwriting program. 

Math in Focus is a K-8 comprehensive mathematics program published by Marshall Cavendish. The instructional approaches emphasize real-world, hands on experiences through a concrete-pictorial-abstract learning progression. For more information about Math in Focus, visit the Math in Focus website.

Second grade students will be using three science modules which focus on three content areas of science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, and Life Science.  . Descriptions of the modules are available on the Carolina Curriculum website.

Units of Study:

• Organisms
• Soils
• Balancing and Weighing

Students gain an understanding of the elements that help to shape a community. Citizenship, geography, and economics will be investigated to demonstrate how communities develop and change over time.

Major Units of Study:

• Community and Citizenship
• Geography
• Economics
• History, Historical Figures and Landmarks

Texts/Resources: Social Studies Alive: My Community

Reading Comprehension: The core resource for comprehension instruction is the Making Meaning program.

The Making Meaning units of study in Third Grade include:

• The Reading Life: Fiction and Narrative Nonfiction
• Visualizing Narrative Fiction and Nonfiction
• Making Inferences in Fiction
• Questioning and Navigating Narrative Text for Deeper Understanding
• Expository: How to use questioning and text features to deepen understanding of expository text
• Determining Importance
• Book Clubs
• Revisiting the Reading life

Vocabulary: The Making Meaning Vocabulary supplement teaches high-utility words found in the Making Meaning read-aloud texts along with strategies students can use to unlock word meanings when they are reading independently.

Writing: Written language instruction is based on Being a Writer.

Units of study in Third Grade include:

• The Writing Community
• The Writing Process
• Personal Narrative
• Fiction
• Functional Writing
• Writing for a Test
• Revisiting the Writing Community

Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction: The purpose of guided reading is for students to have time to read and apply strategies and skills that were demonstrated by the teacher during read aloud and shared reading instruction.

Foundational Skills: Grades K-5 include direct instruction in the area of word study. In grade 3 Fountas and Pinnell Phonics Lessons 3: Letters, words and how they work serve as the core of the word study program.

Handwriting: Cursive writing is reinforced in grade 3 using the Zaner Bloser Handwriting program.

Math in Focus is a K-8 comprehensive mathematics program published by Marshall Cavendish. The instructional approaches emphasize real-world, hands on experiences through a concrete-pictorial-abstract learning progression. For more information about Math in Focus, visit the Math in Focus website.

Third grade students will use three science modules which focus on three content areas of science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, and Life Science. Descriptions of the modules can be found on the Carolina Curriculum website.

Major Units of Study in Third Grade:

• Plant Growth and Development
• Rocks and Minerals
• Changes

Students will broaden their awareness of the local and global communities in which they live. Third graders participate in the annual Walk to Wayne.

Major Units of Study:

• Participating in Our Community
• Community Government and Economics
• Wayne Over Time

Texts/Resources: Social Studies Alive! Our Community and Beyond

Reading Comprehension: The core resource for comprehension instruction is the Making Meaning program.  

The Making Meaning units of study in Fourth Grade include:

• The Reading Life: Fiction and Narrative Nonfiction
• Recognizing Text Features, Expository Nonfiction
• Determining Important Ideas and Summarizing
• Tall Tale Book Clubs
• Questioning and Navigating Nonfiction for Deeper Understanding
• Analyzing Text Structure in Fiction and Nonfiction
• Making Inferences and Visualizing with Poetry and Nonficiton
• Making inferences and Examining Relationships in Fiction and Narrative Nonfiction
• Social Issues Book Clubs
• Analyzing Text Structure and Synthesizing Expository Nonfiction
• Revisiting the Reading Life Through Book Clubs

Vocabulary: The Making Meaning Vocabulary supplement teaches high-utility words found in the Making Meaning read-aloud texts along with strategies students can use to unlock word meanings when they are reading independently.

Writing: Written language instruction is based on Being a Writer.

Units of study in Fourth Grade include:

• The Writing Community
• The Writing Process
• Personal Narrative
• Fiction
• Expository Nonfiction
• Poetry
• Persuasive Nonfiction
• Writing for a Test
• Revisiting the Writing Community

Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction: The purpose of guided reading is for students to have time to read and apply strategies and skills that were demonstrated by the teacher during read aloud and shared reading instruction. 

Foundational Skills: Students in 4th and 5th grade use Dr. Richard Gentry’s Spelling Connection program.

Handwriting: Issues with legibility are addressed on an as needed basis using differentiated instruction whole class, small group or one-on-one. Resources from the Zaner Bloser Handwriting program are available for this purpose.

Math in Focus is a K-8 comprehensive mathematics program published by Marshall Cavendish. The instructional approaches emphasize real-world, hands on experiences through a concrete-pictorial-abstract learning progression. For more information about Math in Focus, visit the Math in Focus website.

Fourth grade students will use three science modules which focus on three content areas of science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, and Life Science. Descriptions of the modules can be found on the Carolina Curriculum website.

Major Units of Study in Fourth Grade:

• Animal Studies
• Land and Water
• Electric Circuits

Students gain a firm grasp of the world around them; the understanding of how social scientist study our world;  the patterns of human development in the United States, the interactions of people and places that helped shaped the United States and specifically Pennsylvania; the understanding of the importance of the regions of the United States with a focus on the Northeast Region; the understanding of how the branches of the government work and that good citizens make informed decision to improve their community, state, country and world.  

Major Units of Study:

• Social Scientist
• Peopling of the United States
• Geography
• Regions of the United States
• Pennsylvania

Texts/Resources: Social Studies Alive! Regions of our Country; Pennsylvania: Our Home

Reading Comprehension: The core resource for comprehension instruction is the Making Meaning program.

 The Making Meaning units of study in Fifth Grade include:

• The Reading Life: Fiction and Narrative Informational Text
• Analyzing Text Features, Structure, and Character Analysis in Fiction
• Analyzing Text Features, Structure, and Questioning in Expository Informational
• Determining Important Ideas and Summarizing and Synthesizing in Fiction
• Determining Important Ideas and Summarizing and Synthesizing in Informational Text
• Making Inferences and Visualizing with Poetry and Drama
• Making Inferences: Expository Nonfiction
• Analyzing Text Structure and Synthesizing Expository Nonfiction
• Close Analysis of Short Texts
• Genre Book Clubs

Vocabulary: The Making Meaning Vocabulary supplement teaches high-utility words found in the Making Meaning read-aloud texts along with strategies students can use to unlock word meanings when they are reading independently.

Writing: Written language instruction is based on Being a Writer.

• Units of study in Fifth Grade include:
• The Writing Community
• The Writing Process
• Personal Narrative
• Fiction
• Expository Nonfiction
• Persuasive Nonfiction
• Poetry
• Functional Writing
• Writing for a Test
• Revisiting the Writing Community

Guided Reading and Small Group Instruction: The purpose of guided reading is for students to have time to read and apply strategies and skills that were demonstrated by the teacher during read aloud and shared reading instruction.

Foundational Skills: Students in grades 4 and 5 use Dr. Richard Gentry’s Spelling Connection program.

Handwriting: Issues with legibility are addressed on an as needed basis using differentiated instruction whole class, small group or one-on-one. Resources from the Zaner Bloser Handwriting program are available for this purpose.

Math in Focus is a K-8 comprehensive mathematics program published by Marshall Cavendish. The instructional approaches emphasize real-world, hands on experiences through a concrete-pictorial-abstract learning progression. For more information about Math in Focus, visit the Math in Focus website.

Fifth grade students will be using three science modules which focus on three content areas of science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science, and Life Science.  Descriptions of the modules are available on the Carolina Curriculum website.

Major Units of Study in Fifth Grade:

• Microworlds
• Motion and Design
• Floating & Sinking

Students learn about citizenship by investigating significant periods of United States history from its foundation to the present.

Major Units of Study:

• The American Revolution 
• Civics and Government
• The Civil War
• 20th Century and Today

Texts/Resources: Social Studies Alive! America's Past

Art classes introduce the vocabulary that is intrinsic to producing and talking about art. The elements of art are embedded in lessons that demonstrate how to use a variety of media, techniques, processes, tools and materials to create art.  Major understandings include: artists make thoughtful choices when creating works of art and often repeat a task many times to learn a new skill; visual art is created for a variety of purposes; art can communicate ideas, express emotions and relate experiences; visual art is displayed; and art elicits a response from the viewer.

1st Grade Units of Study:

• Line is used to create art
• Lines make shapes/shapes make objects
• Paper and fiber weaving on loom
• Clay pinch pot
• Mixing primary colors to create secondary colors

2nd Grade Units of Study:

• John James Audubon
• Clay Slab Work; expanded pinch pot experience
• Yarn weaving on cardboard loom
• Introduction of warm and cool color families

3rd Grade Units of Study:

• Introduction to architecture
• Clay Slab work
• Introduction to weaving around the loom to create a pillow or purse by fifth grade
• Introduction to additional color families

4th Grade Units of Study:

• Keith Haring
• Clay Coiled Pot
• Introduction to making shapes in weaving
• Expansion of painting techniques

5th Grade Units of Study:

• One-Point Perspective
• Ceramic project incorporating all techniques used over the past 4 years.
• Introduction of Mixed Media art such as collage

Every student in grades K-5 benefits from a Specials subject area called, "Innovation Design Studio," dedicated to Computer Science and hands-on innovative instruction in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

The program will be experiential and project-based to allow for:

• Voice
• Co-creation
• Social Construction
• Self-discovery

The ID Studio will be taught and experienced using a lens of design and dispositions.

• DESIGN
  • Engineering Design Process
  • Design Thinking (Human-centered Design)
  • Maker Pedagogy
  • Iterative Processes
• DISPOSITIONS
  • Character Traits
  • Next Generation Skills
  • Habits of Mind

Core areas of K-5 Innovation Design Studio instruction:

• Computer Science (Computational Thinking & Programming)
• Computer Science (Productivity)
• STEM & Engineering

The library curriculum is closely aligned with the English Language Arts Pennsylvania Core Standards and the American Association of School Librarians.

Kindergarten Units of Study:

• Life of a Reader
• Organization of the library
• Parts of a book / Type of books
• Responsible Library Citizenship
• Research
• Digital Citizenship

1st Grade Units of Study:

• Life of a Reader
• Organization of the library
• Type of books  / Information in books
• Responsible Library Citizenship
• Research
• Digital Citizenship

2nd Grade Units of Study

• Life of a Reader

• Selecting Informational and Literary Text

• Preparing and Publishing Multimedia Presentations

• Responsible Library Citizenship

• Research

• Digital Citizenship

3rd Grade Units of Study

• Life of a Reader

• Selecting Informational and Literary Text

• Preparing and Publishing Multimedia Presentations

• Responsible Library Citizenship

• Research

• Digital Citizenship

4th Grade Units of Study

• Life of a Reader

• Selecting Informational and Literary Text

• Preparing and Publishing Multimedia Presentations

• Responsible Library Citizenship

• Research

• Digital Citizenship

5th Grade Units of Study



• Life of a Reader

• Selecting and Evaluating Informational and Literary Text

• Preparing and Publishing Multimedia Presentations

• Responsible Library Citizenship

• Research
• 
Digital Citizenship

Elementary students experience music by singing, playing, moving, and improvising. Children explore the musical elements: melody, harmony, rhythm, form, and timbre, as well as expressive elements through a varied repertoire of music from diverse cultures and genres.

Kindergarten: The skills of matching pitch and steady beat are explored through singing and movement games as well as instrumental play.

1st Grade: Elementary students experience music by singing, playing, moving, and improvising. The skills of matching pitch, steady beat, rhythmic notation, and echo are taught and assessed regularly throughout the year. Students are assessed on notation of quarter notes, paired eighth notes and quarter rest. Students regularly have the opportunity to perform music using Orff instruments and multicultural instruments.

2nd Grade: Students are assessed on singing by memory, playing both rhythmic and melodic ostinati, reading and notating quarter notes, quarter rests, paired eighth notes, and half note, as well as identifying AB and ABA form. Students regularly have the opportunity to perform music using Orff instruments and multicultural instruments.

3rd-Grade: Students learn how to read treble clef notation by performing on the soprano recorder throughout the school year. Students also use the recorder as a tool for ostinati and improvisatory activities. Students regularly have the opportunity to perform music using Orff instruments and multicultural instruments.

4th-Grade: Students have frequent opportunities to connect music to cultural and historical events as well as other subject areas through class discussion. All students participate in a grade-level chorus concert in the spring. Chorus instruction is imbedded within the general music classroom instruction during the spring semester. Students typically learn and perform a wide variety of musical styles such as Spirituals, multicultural and folk music, and novelty pieces, often incorporating movement and instruments as well.

• Strings: Fourth grade introduces string instruments. Beginning strings students meet for a small group lesson once every cycle during the Intervention/Enrichment period for 25 minutes. Full orchestra rehearsals before school are held once per week, beginning in March. Students participate in at least one concert in the Spring. Major topics of study include posture, bow grip, note reading, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, tone production, intonation, balance, blend, and articulation.

5th-Grade: Students have frequent opportunities to connect music to cultural and historical events as well as other subject areas through class discussion. All students participate in a grade-level chorus concert in the spring. Chorus instruction is imbedded within the general music classroom instruction during the spring semester. Students typically learn and perform a wide variety of musical styles such as Spirituals, multicultural and folk music, and novelty pieces, often incorporating movement and instruments as well.

• Band: Fifth grade introduces band. Beginning band students meet for a small group lesson once every cycle during the Intervention/Enrichment period for 25 minutes. Full band rehearsals before school are held once per week, beginning in January. Students participate in at least once concert in the Spring. Major topics of study include posture, embouchure/stick grip, note reading, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, tone production, intonation, balance, blend, and articulation.
• Strings: Second year strings students meet for a small group lesson once every cycle during the Intervention/Enrichment period for 25 minutes. Orchestra rehearsals begin in October and are held one day per week before school. Students participate in at least two concerts per year. Major Topics of Study include reinforcement of posture, bow grip, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, note reading, tone production, intonation, balance, blend, articulation. Emphasis on major vs. minor tonality; dotted rhythms; sixteenth notes; syncopation; scales up to three sharps and two flats.

Texts: Silver Burdett’s Making Music

The goal of physical education is based on the idea that if you teach children to move efficiently and to achieve success and satisfaction in movement experiences, their attitude toward all physical activities will be more positive.  Students will focus on positive social interaction:  taking turns, listening skills, safety awareness, and respect for self and peers. 

Kindergarten: The program consists of activities that enhance body awareness, self control, spatial awareness, gross and fine motor skills, loco motor and non-loco motor movements, creative and rhythmic movements, directionality, balance, partner and group challenges, and manipulative skills with a variety of equipment.

1st Grade: Students will begin to apply newly learned skills in a meaningful way by engaging in various low organized games. 

2nd Grade: Students are introduced to the concepts of fitness, healthy lifestyles, and more game-type settings. Emphasis is centered on cooperation, sportsmanship, body control, and rule awareness. Students continue to focus on listening skills, safety awareness, respect for self and peers, and appropriate peer interaction. 

3rd Grade: Students begin to engage in more sport-related skills and activities. The program stimulates skeletal growth, improves muscle strength and coordination, increases flexibility, promotes cardiovascular and respiratory fitness, introduces new skills, teaches the enjoyment of a variety of sports and reinforces the concepts of good sportsmanship and teamwork.

4th Grade: Students engage in more sport-related skills and activities. The program stimulates skeletal growth, improves muscle strength and coordination, increases flexibility, promotes cardiovascular and respiratory fitness, introduces new skills, teaches the enjoyment of a variety of sports, and reinforces the concepts of good sportsmanship and teamwork.

5th Grade: Students will engage in more advanced sport-related skills and activities.  The 5th grade PE program is based on meeting the needs and interests of the upper elementary school children and is geared toward their holistic development. 

All students in grades 1-5 take part in wellness classes which consists of eight units taught throughout the school year to help educate students on living a healthy and safe lifestyle. Information taught becomes progressively more challenging but remains developmentally appropriate.

Units of Study include:

• Safety
• Emergency Situations
• First Aid
• Hygiene
• Relaxation
• Body Systems
• Drug prevention
• Nutrition