Developing a Range of Skills that Make Children Future-Ready
In the Elementary School EAR has a Core Curriculum that consists of five distinct areas of primary study. These are English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Portuguese. Each of these areas have a specific curriculum and approach to teaching and learning.
Readers & Writers Workshop is used to teach English Language Arts
EAR’s Reading and Writing Curriculum is taught through Units of Study within a Workshop framework created from the research of methodologies and evidence-based practices at Columbia University’s Teachers College Reading and Writing Project directed by Lucy Calkins and Team. Prepare students for any reading and writing task they will face, and to turn kids into life-long, confident readers and writers who display independence. This curriculum is built on more than 30 years of research and work in thousands of schools across the United States and around the world to develop powerful curriculum resources, instructional methods, and professional learning opportunities to support teachers as they work together and with their students toward these vitally important goals.
– The Reading and Writing Workshops are driven by standards, focused on strategies, differentiated, and guided by student data. There is a great deal of support for the Workshop Model from many leaders in the field of literacy instruction, including Lucy Calkins, Nancy Atwell, Richard Allington, and Carol Avery. The Reading and Writing Workshop Model is a structured time for the teaching and learning of literacy instruction. The Reading Workshop is an uninterrupted time for students to read, think and converse about authentic literature on a daily basis. The Writing Workshop is an uninterrupted time for students to engage in daily, authentic, self-selected independent writing in a variety of genres and content areas. The main focus of the Workshop Model is to differentiate instruction in order to accommodate learning needs of all students while fostering a love of reading and writing in a literacy rich environment.
– Reading and writing workshops are deliberately designed to offer a simple and predictable environment so that the teacher can focus on the complex work of observing students’ progress and teaching into their needs. Each session begins with a mini lesson. Kids sit with a long-term partner while in the mini lesson. The mini lesson ends with the kids being sent off to their own independent work. As students work, the teacher confers with them and leads small groups. Partway through independent/partner work time, the teacher stands and delivers a mid-workshop teaching point. The workshop ends with a share out.
– Word Study – Phonemic Awareness/ Phonics Instruction: Writing Skills will continue to be used for phonics instruction in grades K-2 for approximately 20 min/day. It is important to have a systematic approach to the instruction of Phonemic Awareness and Phonics and Writing Skills provides such an approach. This will be considered a “Word Work” period that can be tacked on to the front or tail end of the Workshop period or taught at a separate time The skills taught should be reinforced throughout any instructional time in which it is appropriate, including in the content areas
Mathematics (Go Math)
Go Math! is a comprehensive Grade K-5 mathematics program developed to support the AERO & Common Core Standards for Mathematics. The program emphasizes Essential Questions and Big Ideas with depth of understanding as the goal. Interactive lessons utilize research based instructional approaches and differentiated instructional resources to ensure success for all students.
Science (Elevate Science)
– Elevate Science is a complete K-5 science program that elevates thinking, learning, and teaching! The blended print and digital curriculum covers all Next Generation Science Standards at every grade level. Exploration is the heart of science. The Quest problem-based activity is an exploration that anchors each topic. Students “figure out” the problem’s solution as they navigate the topic’s lessons. It’s real science with engaging phenomena. Students apply their knowledge and skills to master the new science standards.
– Elevate Science takes science to a whole new level. It lets students take ownership of their learning, exploring science in the world around them, investigating how things work, thinking critically and solving problems! Elevate Science helps a student think like a scientist so they are ready for a world of discoveries. The curriculum develops strong reasoning skills and critical thinking strategies, as students engage in explorations, formulate claims, and use data for evidence-based arguments.
Social Studies (TCI Social Studies Alive!)
TCI is a flexible curriculum aligned with AERO Standards that allows teachers to smoothly transition from physical classrooms to blended learning environments using the various resources and tools on digital platforms. We are committed to making sure our curriculum and our products keep teachers and students ahead in the ever-changing world of education.
The elementary social studies curriculum and how you present it can play a big role in how students retain the information from their lessons. TCI seeks to make education both fun and impactful.
The online Social Studies Alive! program teaches students about the world around them and how our cultures were created through interesting and engaging activities and lessons. You probably already know that elementary kids don’t get excited by sitting at a desk and listening to a lecture, quietly reading from an elementary school social studies textbook, taking notes, and then having to take a test. While there’s a time for every type of learning, there are better (and certainly more fun) ways to go about teaching our children about history.
Portuguese
– The Portuguese: Linguagens collection presents a complete Portuguese Language course with planned activities for reading verbal and non-verbal texts and production of various genres, proposing reflection on language and language and continuous student learning.
– This Curriculum is in line with the BNCC, the work intended for the early years has been reformulated with an emphasis on orality, bringing numerous activities.
In addition to these five core areas of study students in the Elementary School (ES) will also have classes in Art, Music, PE, Library, and Brazilian History/Geography.