For Parents > Curriculum

Core Knowledge

Core Knowledge is a detailed outline that provides a common base of curriculum content for language arts, history, geography, mathematics, science, art, and music at the Academy.  The Core program has been called a gifted program for all children.  It is designed to encourage steady academic progress for children to build skills from one year to the next.  Core prevents repetition and gaps in instruction that occurs when schools lack a definitive curriculum guideline.

The Core Sequence is also based on knowledge of cultural diversity, so students celebrate and understand each other’s heritage.  Core stresses the value of the arts as essential knowledge that students should have, and, in the Core Sequence, there are many opportunities to sing, dance, listen to music, play, act, read and write poetry, draw, paint, and make objects.  Students are also exposed to fine paintings and musical compositions.  With this basic arts foundation, our students are able to participate in and communicate ideas and feelings about arts experiences.

English Language Arts and Literacy Development
(Balanced Literacy)

Our Curriculum has interwoven literature from our Scott Foresman Literacy Program, trade books, leveled texts, and Core Knowledge. During ELA, learning activities are differentiated and skills are taught in small group settings. Our students find related meanings in all stories and literary content as they study the countries and cities of the story settings and characters, and even the language, music, and art of the country and time period in which the stories take place.

Reading

Our reading program is designed to teach every student how to read. The components of our Balanced Literacy Program contain read alouds, shared reading experiences, responses to literature, word work, guided reading and guided strategy groups, independent reading, partnership reading and one-on-one/group conferences. Teaching and learning in the workshop structure enables our students to take responsibility for their learning as they become successful readers. Reading skills and strategies are tailored to the needs and level of each individual student. There is ongoing reading assessment and practice, and areas in need of reinforcement are supported as needed. All curricula, including mathematics, social studies, health, science, art, and music, have incorporated reading practices to support learning in all the academic subject areas. Students at CSEE have opportunities to utilize and practice critical thinking skills to solve math problems, raise questions and apply reason to problems and tasks; explore historical biographies; investigate issues that relate to a healthy mind and body; conduct animal studies; and research to learn about great artists and musicians and complete written projects.

Writing

Our writing program is taught through the writers’ workshop. Our students are provided consistent, predictable opportunities to explore the world as writers. Their daily writing experiences include focused mini-lessons, conferences, guided writing lessons, writing centers and a forum to share their accomplishments. To supplement our writing program, we use the Great Source Writing Program as well as the 6 & 1 Traits of Writing, replete with writing rubrics and lessons on the conventions of writing.

Writing has been integrated into all curricula, and focuses on students’ abilities to engage in the writing process which includes preparing written drafts for revising, editing and evaluation. Final edited drafts corrected in grammar and punctuation, with detailed and well-formatted stories and poems, are then “published” and displayed in the classrooms, hallways or filed into student portfolios. All students have the opportunity to enjoy author studies, which often culminate in meeting real authors, or journalists who model exemplary methods of writing and editing.

Listening

Students are engaged throughout the day in activities that promote listening skills. Our student-centered classrooms, with their stimulating classroom environments, focus on encouraging active listening and sharing of ideas in a cooperative learning environment. Through explicit instruction such as modeled think-alouds, our students become meta-cognizant of their learning to the point that they can have meaningful, engaging peer conversations. These guided listening activities, interactive read-a-louds, differentiated graphic organizers, partnerships and responses to literature assist students in developing note-taking skills necessary for effective test-taking strategies in preparation for the 4th grade ELA examination. Students practice their listening skills on a daily basis in various forums.

Speaking

Students are engaged in developing a repertoire of words appropriate to formal and social situations. Students will listen to and present oral presentations to develop the skill of expressing personal points of view, formulating opinions and judgments and fluently articulating their understanding of the world, views and people around them. They role play, practice correct grammar, and understand their responsibility to express themselves in their reading, writing, and goal setting conferences with their teachers. Students speak on a daily basis in various forums.

Mathematics

Everyday Mathematics was developed through the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project for children in the elementary grades to develop mathematical literacy and become life-long analytical thinkers. Everyday Math begins with the premise that students can and must learn more mathematics than has been expected in the past and that they be given opportunities to experiment with math in real-life situations. Our Everyday Mathematics curriculum encourages children to develop problem solving skills through sophisticated processes of collecting and analyzing data to solve problems through the integrated study of number systems.

Highlights of the enriched mathematics program:
• Problem solving everyday math situations;
• Linking past experiences to new concepts;
• Sharing ideas through discussions;
• Developing concept readiness through hands-on activities and explorations;
• Cooperative learning through partner and small group activities;
• Increasing “fact power” through games (math facts);
• Providing ongoing review and applications (reinforcement and enrichment);
• Solving problems applying multiple strategies;
• Integrating mathematics in daily routines;
• Providing a variety of assessment opportunities (student observations, math boxes, unit tests, mid and end of year assessments; and
• Empowering parents to understanding new math concepts

Science

Our Science curriculum is a research-based, real-life, hands-on approach to learning science. The program consists of learning three units of studies in science aligned to the New York State Standards, which include:

Life Science
Earth Science
Physical Science

We use several tools to supplement the program in order to give students more comprehensive experiences in science and prepare them for the 4th grade New York State exam in Science (ESPET). The Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Science textbook series is a complete and comprehensive standards-based program that provides activities for students to observe, question, hypothesize, experiment, and draw conclusions. Using manipulatives students will be able to solve problems; interpret data; predict outcomes and communicate their findings to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of scientific concepts.

Social Studies

Students study a comprehensive history and geography curriculum, which is integrated with music and art. Some topics presented in social studies include the study of Black History, Ancient Egypt, Early Americans, The Middle Ages, WWI and WWI, the French Revolution, and current events in Latin America. Students learn and develop map skills, research techniques, awareness of cultures, and of the United States and abroad.

Music and Art

The music and art curriculum integrates social studies as its central theme, so that each history or geography unit is broadened and enhanced with related music and art experiences. Reading and writing is infused throughout the programs.

Languages Other Than English (Spanish)

To promote cultural awareness and the appreciation and respect for other people, CSEE will teach its children Spanish as a Second Language. The main component of the foreign language curriculum will be Amigos: Spanish as a Second Language, published by REI America. This will be supplemented with teacher-developed lessons that engage students in creative speaking and listening classroom activities.

The first goal of foreign language education is for students to communicate at a basic literacy level in one language other than English. One of the goals of our Spanish program is to promote the acquisition and proficiency of social language. Students will be able to understand basic commands and formulate simple phrases.

The second goal of the program is for students to understand the interrelationship between language and culture. Students will acquire an understanding of and an appreciation of the cultures that exist within our community and gain a better understanding of gestures, perceptions, and learn about folklore. This will help students develop cross-cultural understanding.

Physical Education

The Physical Education Curriculum enables students to master manipulative and large motor skills. Students perform warm-up and cool-down exercises both indoors and outdoors. Students become competent in a variety of physical activities. Our students design a weight-control and stress-management system with skills for flexibility and physical endurance. A safety awareness program that is integrated into our physical education program helps students develop skills of cooperation, as students express concern for the safety of others.

Through physical education exercises, the language arts skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are utilized in planning and organizing games and sports and in communicating to classmates and teachers. Students also use interpersonal and character building skills in their discussions about games and sports.

Health Education

The Health Curriculum is designed to strengthen skills and knowledge in maintaining personal health and fitness, in creating a safe and healthy environment, and in establishing contacts with community including health and physical education resources. Our students learn about the human body, dental care, the dangers of nicotine alcohol and drugs, and common household products, and the value of exercise and good nutrition. They also develop skills in enhancing their self-esteem and sense of well being, and they practice dance techniques and large motor games.

As in all curricula, listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities have been included in lessons, homework, and tests, so that students practice language arts skills that they need to know for standardized and informal tests. Students also practice interpreting complex information and practice working in small and large groups to share tasks and information about health.