Reading: There will be a variety of daily literacy experiences in our classroom. We will learn strategies in small group, whole group, and individual settings. Our literacy time will focus on comprehension, fluency and expression, decoding, story elements, inferencing, predicting, context clues as well as other comprehension strategies. We will also spend time discussing text structure and studying various genres. Reading activities will often enhance our science and social studies concepts. Your child will be experiencing literacy through the workshop model.
Writing: Brighton Area Schools has chosen the Lucy Calkin’s model for writer’s workshop to broaden writing skills. Students will have authentic writing experiences on a daily basis. Students will have an opportunity to participate in mini-lessons, independent writing and conferring, guided writing activities, and sharing time. Students will write in a variety of genres including: narrative, non-fiction (informational) and opinion based writing. Within Writer’s Workshop, your child will have instruction in genre studies, the writing process, personal style, grammar, and usage. Soon we will begin working on cursive handwriting and keyboarding.
Spelling/Word Study- The Wordsmith spelling model will support your child’s spelling instruction. The spelling activities that your child will participate in will focus on the everyday usage of words in written language. Spelling lists and weekly concepts/skills will be the main structure of the program. Word study is a key component of a balanced literacy program. Your child will be learning about how words work using a systematic research based format.
Math- Brighton Area Schools uses Everyday Mathematics to support the instruction of our state core standards. Your child's math instruction will focus on problem solving, geometry, algebra preparation, data collection, measurement, probability and statistics. The program’s foundation rests upon the belief that students learn best by doing. An emphasis is placed on problem solving and activities that promote higher thinking skills. Instead of traditional units of study, topics will be repeated throughout the year in a variety of ways. My goal is to provide all children with quality math instruction that makes the study of mathematics an engaging successful experience.
Science- Our science studies this year will involve the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science. These dimensions are combined to form each standard—or performance expectation—and each dimension works with the other two to help students build a cohesive understanding of science over time. Learners will experience three-dimensional learning as they study topics including: weather & climate, force & motion, plants & animals, and adaptations.
Social Studies- Michigan studies will be our main focus in social studies this year. Your child will be introduced to topics including history, geography, places, and people in Michigan. Your child will also be introduced to civics through Core Democratic Values and economics through Mini-society.