A Typical Day At School
When you arrive scholars unpack, get settled into the classroom are able to chat with one another, draw or read until the day begins at 8:30. At 8:30 we begin our day with a morning meeting, move into language arts centers and writing activities. After lunch and recess we generally work on math, science, social studies, and developmental social activities.
Socialization
Although our program has been created with a core academic focus, I recognize the importance of socializing as another crucial area for young children. During structured activities in the classroom, scholars are able to work in cooperative groups as they share materials, create, play games, etc. As scholars socialize and work with each other, they are formulating social skills that will last a lifetime. Negotiating the social arena is just as important as learning to read because these social skills will support and enhance the success they have in the academic areas in subsequent years in school.
Morning Meeting
A time to bring everyone together to begin the day, say good morning, discuss the days activities and have a large group discussion. I use this morning meeting as way to provide a soft landing for our scholars and orient them to the school day.
Language Arts
Language Arts small groups involve scholars in a variety of activities. Scholars work on spelling, reading, and writing in independent groups as well as small groups with the teacher. Not only do these groups help scholars develop their reading and writing skills, they also help scholars become more independent over the course of the year.
Scholars practice their reading skills by having time each day to read independently quietly. Reading can encompass scholars looking at picture books and making up their own story to go with the pictures, to scholars reading independently with a variety of reading materials, magazines, picture books and chapter books and poetry books.
Writing
With the use of Nancy Fetzers' Writing program, there are many ways instruction is differentiated. With the use of writing prompts, scholars are taught the writing process, brain storming, writing a draft, editing and writing a final copy.
Scholars are introduced to a spelling dictionary and are encouraged to spell words they are not sure how to spell by sounding it out. I work with scholars to help them apply spelling rules from our word study center in addition to chunks, long and short vowel sounds and sight words.
Our end goal is for scholars to independently write 5-6 sentences about one subject with a beginning, middle, end, sight words spelled correctly, capitals when appropriate, lowercase letters, spaces and punctuation. Depending on the writing piece, narrative, informational or opinion, writing would also include reasons and opinions about a subject.
Through a continued writing curriculum in class and homeschool, my goal is for scholars to feel confident and have a desire and ability to write.
Math
Our core math program is iReady and we combine that with cognitively guided instruction when solving math problems. Cognitively guided instruction is a student-centered approach that begins with what scholars already know. I guide and build upon the scholars natural number sense and intuitive approach to problem solving. Math problems can be solved in many different ways.
I combine the curriculum with math games, skills and practice to help scholars develop a solid grasp of mathematical concepts. Scholars enjoy centers pertaining to number sense through 1,000, re-grouping, solving word problems, graphing, simple fractions, time and money.
Science and Social Studies
Social Studies and Science activities are typically scheduled during the afternoon. These activities are wonderful to learn how to research information and re-visit that information to make connections. Activities can offer opportunities for creativity and hands-on exploration. Social studies units include, government, economics, maps and geography, important people in history, past and present timelines. NGSS Science units include structure and properties of matter, interdependent relationships in ecosystems and Earth's systems.