Curriculum

• Reading – Active engagement with words to form meaning through teacher read alouds, independent reading, and differentiated instruction at student’s ability level. Students will be able to build sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. Students will also be able to determine the main topic/idea of a text, identify key details, and ask/answer questions. 
• Writing – During Writer’s Workshop, students will engage in informative writing. They will learn to gather their thoughts, write, revise, edit, and publish. Students will be able to introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
• Word Study – Students will learn about words through phonics, vocabulary and the study of word patterns. Word study knowledge will be applied to student reading and writing.
• Communication – Students will improve speaking and listening skills to express ideas clearly.

• Students will problem solve through hands-on activities and gain a better understanding of abstract math concepts and number sense.
  • Concepts in 1st grade: computation (+/-), composing and decomposing numbers up to 12, story problems, patterns, understanding of numbers 0-120, place value, geometry, measurement, money, telling time.  
• There will be whole group instruction as well as small group instruction.

Curriculum core subjects:  Math and Language Arts

Language Arts

• A guided reading and individualized approach builds comprehension strategies and gradually transitions students to independent reading assignments. Leveled reading selections progressively expose students to new challenges, including greater length, more complex content, and new vocabulary. The emphasis is on classic literature from many cultures, poetry, and nonfiction articles. Students also make their own reading choices to help foster a lifelong love of reading. 
• Word Study-Learning about words through phonics, vocabulary and the study of word patterns. Word study knowledge will be applied to student reading and writing.
• Communication-Improving speaking and listening to express ideas clearly.
• Writing-During Writer’s Workshop students will engage in narrative, opinion and information types of writing. They will learn to gather their thoughts, write, revise, edit, and publish.

Math

• Our study of mathematics will include investigations and exploration into numbers and number concepts. We do this by playing a lot of math games and using a variety of manipulatives in the classroom or home suggested, like blocks, counters, and cards.  Encourage your children to practice math skills at home by noticing how numbers are present everywhere in our lives and we use math all of the time (for example:  when shopping, dividing shares of things, measuring, and building).
• There will be whole group instruction as well as small group, specific skill instruction.

Science, Social Studies, and Health will be taught in our classroom throughout the year

• We will also be learning a lot of interesting things about the world we live in through our science and social studies lessons.  This will allow for great explorations and hands-on activities. 
• Science will focus on: plant parts, animal identification, water cycles, and the earth's surface.
• Social Studies will focus on: citizenship, parts of the government, historical figures, and major U.S. landmarks.
   

Math

• Students will move through the 3rd Grade Minnesota Math Standards which include: place value and rounding, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, shapes, time, money, variables, and graphs and tables.

• Students will continue working on computation throughout the year.  Our goal by the end of the year is for students to know how to add and subtract multi-digit numbers.  

Language Arts

• Reading - Students will meet with the teacher in guided reading groups during Daily 5 reading and writing stations. 

• Students will be reading both whole class and at their individual reading levels from a variety of different genres and styles. We will practice various skills/strategies (i.e. main idea, cause and effect, inferencing, etc.) to build our comprehension and fluency, but most importantly find a love of reading! 

• Writing - Students will use the writing process and will focus on narratives, opinion, and informational. 

Social Studies

• Students will study ancient civilizations, U.S. government, economics, and U.S. geography.   

Science

• Students will study: moon phases, membranes, sound, shadows, and engineering design process. 

Math

• Students will move through the Go Math series with an emphasis on: numbers and operations, algebra, geometry and measurement, and data and analysis.

• Students will continue working on computation throughout the year.  They will be expected to know multiplication and division facts 1-10.  Our goal by the end of the year is to have students knowing 45 out of 50 facts in a 5-minute time.

Language Arts

• Reading - Students will be reading both whole class and at their individual reading levels from a variety of different genres and styles. We will practice various skills/strategies (i.e. main idea, cause and effect, inferencing, etc.) to build our comprehension and fluency, but most importantly find a love of reading! 

• Writing - Students will use the writing process with the goal of creating clear and coherent writing with different formats and genres of writing.  Writing will be both structured and creative. 

• Language Skills - Students will learn spelling patterns that strengthen their word knowledge.

Social Studies

• Students will study regions of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  

• Students will develop an understanding of map basics.

Science

• Students will study electricity, circuits, electromagnets, and rocks/minerals

• Students will study water and activities relating to water

• Students will learn about communicable diseases.

Math

• Students will move through the grade five Minnesota Math Standards with an emphasis on number and operations, algebra, geometry and measurement, and data analysis.  
• Students will continue working on computation with a specific focus placed on fractions and the application of skills in advanced and real world contexts. They will also continue to develop their problem solving skills.

Language Arts

• Reading - Students will be reading both whole class and at their individual reading levels from a variety of different genres and styles. We will practice various skills/strategies (i.e. main idea, cause and effect, inferencing, etc.) to build our comprehension and fluency. Book clubs will also be used to practice reading comprehension strategies and promote interest and excitement toward reading.
• Writing - Students will use the writing process with the goal of creating clear and coherent writing with different formats and genres of writing.  Writing will be both structured and creative. 
• Word Study - Students will learn spelling patterns that strengthen their word knowledge.

Social Studies

• Our social studies curriculum focuses on United States pre-history and history. The main themes covered are Our Land and First People, World Exploration and Settlement, The English Colonies, and Causes of the American Revolution.

Science

• Students will understand and apply the scientific method.
• Students will study engineering and build simple machines.
• Students will learn about environments and create their own terrarium.
• Students will use the engineering design process to clean up an oil spill.

View the Specialists Google Site.

Music is not for the select few, or the chosen elite.  Music is for all.  It is my goal to help produce learners who are artful, collaborative, creative, and mindful of all styles and genres of music from all over the world.  Through music, we sing, play, dance, create, and discover together.  The Wilshire Park Music Program is based on the following goals:  

Program goals:

• Explore music concepts via composing, improvising, movement, and playing a diverse array of instruments to provide an individualized learning experience. 
• Culturally responsive curriculum that reflects all learners at Wilshire Park Elementary School.
• Provide musical context of all styles of music in addition to notation concepts to provide a well rounded learning experience for all learners.