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Elmont CORE Instructional Programs

English Language Arts

Wilson Fundations (Pre-K-2)

Students in grades Pre-K-2 receive a systematic program in critical foundational skills, emphasizing, phonemic awareness, Phonics/ word study, High frequency word study, Handwriting and spelling. The instruction aligns with states’ rigorous college- and career-ready standards. Wilson Fundations serves as a prevention program to help reduce reading and spelling failure. It is integral to a Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) or Response to Intervention (RTI) framework, providing research-based instruction in Tier 1 as well as early intervention (Tier 2) for students at risk for reading difficulties. Click here to visit the official Wilson Fundation website.

 

F&P Reading and Writing Minilessons (K-2)

Reading and Writing Minilessons are short, concise, explicit inquiry-based whole-group lessons about a principal that students can apply in their independent reading and writing.   Our primary grade teachers are being trained to utilize this resource as a part of our Balance Literacy approach to English Language Arts (ELA) instruction.  Teachers engage students in inquiry that leads to the discovery of the general principals of reading and writing.  In turn, teachers are expanding and refining our children's writing and reading powers.  

F&P Reading Minilessons

F&P Writing Minilessons

 

F&P Interactive Read Aloud (K-6)

F&P Interactive Read Aloud program exposes students with text sets that reflect a global perspective with a diversity of characters, settings, and topics. The texts has been carefully curated around a connecting idea, central theme, or study of a particular author, illustrator, or genre. During interactive read-aloud, the teacher reads aloud a selected text to children, occasionally pausing for conversation. The texts are beyond the instructional reading level of most children. The children are listening to the text and viewing the illustrations. The text-based discussion helps children to construct meaning and make connections between books in the text set. Additionally, F&P Interactive Read-Aloud promotes the joy of reading, expands children’s vocabulary, and increases their ability to think, talk, and write about texts that fully engage their interest.

 

ReadyGEN (grades 1-5)

A comprehensive ELA curriculum aligned to the complexity requirements of Common Core Standards. At the heart of ReadyGEN is an exchange between reading and writing to promote student thinking and understanding through citation and text-based evidence. Students are expected to analyze and synthesize sources, write to sources, and defend claims.

ReadyGEN is organized into unit modules containing Text Sets aligned to the Essential Question and Enduring Understandings of each unit. Text Sets contain authentic pieces of literary and informational trade books. Texts are designed to build core knowledge for sustained periods of time. Embedded support at point-of-use allows all students – ELLs, struggling readers, and accelerated learners – to successfully participate. Additionally, Academic Specialists provided guidance through supplementary support materials.

The ReadyGEN Program features:

  • 12 Full-Length Authentic Trade Books for every student.
  • LEVELED TEXT COLLECTION: A collection of topic-related texts spanning multiple genres
  • SLEUTH – A magazine style reader of short texts to develop close reading strategies.
  • a comprehensive student assessment system featuring:
    • Baseline Assessment to determine students’ instructional needs in foundational skills, comprehension, vocabulary, and writing.
    • Regular Formative Assessments to measure student reading, vocabulary analysis and writing progress to adjust instruction.
    • Performance-Based Assessments embedded in each unit to measure students’ core understandings in integrating reading, writing, speaking and listening.
    • Summative, End-of-Unit Assessments are designed to measure mastery of the Common Core Standards.

 

Pearson: Common Core Literature (grade 6)

Pearson: Common Core Literature Edition motivates students to use critical thinking, enhance language, and cognitive development. The program features five units of quality-complex text. Each unit begins with The Big Question. Text selections take students beyond their own lives, broadening their backgrounds, enabling students to grow in understanding. Such affective responses to literature provide opportunities for students to become personally involved in reading and learning. Each PCCL Unit emphasizes a Four-Part Instructional Model to respond to The Big Question:

  • PART 1: SETTING EXPECTATIONS - The Big Question is introduced and provides a central focus for gathering evidence and information through a variety of genres. Close Reading is applied. Academic Vocabulary in text selections prepare students for the challenge of college and careers.
  • PART 2: TEXT ANALYSIS: The students focus on a specific genre focus. Specific skills are developed and implemented through direct instruction.
  • PART 3: TEXT SET: DEVELOPING INSIGHT - The emphasis is about answering The Big Question using content knowledge through comparing multi-genre Text Sets. Students are given the opportunity to encounter complex texts that mirror college textbooks and workplace documents.
  • PART 4: DEMONSTRATING INDEPENDENCE – Students read extended texts independently to apply what they have learned. Teachers pre-plan with students. Online Student e Textsets enable students to build stamina as they practice reading.
PCCL student assessments:
  • Regular Formative Assessments measures student reading, vocabulary analysis and writing progress to adjust instruction.
  • Summative, End-of-Unit Assessments measures students’ mastery of the Common Core Standards.

 

Science

Project Based Learning with a Focus on Literacy Through Science A-Z

The Elmont Union Free School District has taken a hands-on approach to science education. Our scholars will learn science by “doing science” through project-based learning (PBL) units aligned to key “phenomena” in the New York State Science Learning Standards (New York’s version of the Next Generation Science Standards). Each PBL unit incorporates content from across the core sciences (Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering), incorporates cross-cutting concepts, and key engineering skills that will promote higher-order thinking and a world view toward sustainability. Additionally, each unit of study is built on a foundation of literacy instruction through high-quality material from Science A-Z, a component of our Reading A-Z program.

 

Social Studies

Integrated Social Studies/ELA Curriculum (K-6)

The Integrated Social Studies/ELA Curriculum is based on the New York State Social Studies Framework adopted by the Board of Regents in 2014, integrates the Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards, and uses an Understanding by Design (UBD) template. Each grade level contains complete lessons for informational texts, technology links, and a C3 inquiry.

 

Mathematics

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: GO MATH! (grades K-6)

Harcourt: GO MATH! promotes comprehensive understanding of mathematical practices through an engaging and interactive approach correlated to the NY State Core Curriculum for Mathematics. Student Write-in Editions provide appropriate levels of depth and rigor. By teaching real-world problem-solving skills, GO MATH! Helps students master math challenges both in school and throughout life. Visit the official GO MATH! website here.