Lower School Curriculum.July 2018.final

Lower School Curriculum.July 2018.final

ANN AND NATE LEVINE ACADEMY JANET AND JEFFREY BECK LOWER SCHOOL GRADES K-4 CURRICULUM GUIDE

Ann and Nate Levine Academy offers an innovative curriculum combining the best of both general and Jewish studies. Our curriculum is based on recognized models of excellence and is continuously reviewed and informed by extensive research. Based practice instruction, state-of-the-art technology, fully equipped science labs, and individualized attention ensure our students’ success academically, emotionally and spiritually. Students cultivate their study skills, critical thinking, and creativity every day: at the computer, in Social Studies and Math classes, during reading, Language Arts and library, and in the study of Torah and Jewish tradition. Levine Academy is committed to creating a welcoming atmosphere of diversity. Teachers and students reflect different traditions of Jewish observance and share a variety of skills and interests. Teaching is tailored to each child’s needs and strengths, not to a class average. This allows children to move ahead in areas of strength and to receive additional attention in areas of need. Our approach fosters self-confidence and promotes success. CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS At Ann and Nate Levine Academy, development of the whole child is essential. We encourage our students to explore and achieve expertise in a wide variety of enrichment activities both during the school day and after school. Our curriculum includes studio art, art appreciation, music appreciation, Hebrew music, band instruction and choir. The P.E. classes from K through 8 emphasize the acquisition and expansion of basic athletic skills, responsible play and competition, while teaching students healthy choices and preparing them for interscholastic and intramural sports.

ANN & NATE LEVINE ACADEMY

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OVERVIEW GENERAL OVERVIEW OF BECK LOWER SCHOOL The Janet and Jeffrey Beck Lower School curriculum is designed to foster academic excellence and meet individual needs, nurturing each student’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder. Motivated from within, our children acquire a sense of self and accomplishment that allow for experiences of creativity, independent study, choice, and responsibility. These experiences are reinforced through warm, disciplined classroom environments and loving teachers devoted to enhancing each child’s personal development. Embracing the sciences, mathematics, the humanities, Hebrew language and Jewish studies, the arts, and physical and health education, our curriculum integrates material taught within each grade and across the grade levels. In this way, we lay the foundation for a liberal education and lifetime love of learning. Through emphasis on critical and intuitive thinking, as well as analysis and creative problem-solving, our children acquire the intellectual independence essential to succeed in a world of accelerating change. Differentiated instruction designed to meet the learning needs of each individual student begins during the Lower School years as learning specialists, counselors, and classroom teachers work toward developing Individual Learning Plans. Students are stretched to meet their maximum potential in academics, the arts, and as individuals. Emphasis is placed on social responsibility within the school community and the community at large.

3 LOWER SCHOOL GRADES K- 4 | CURRICULUM GUIDE

KINDERGARTEN OVERVIEW In Kindergarten, it is our goal to provide a stimulating, nurturing learning environment where children are encouraged to work toward being independent. They are encouraged to develop self-awareness, interpersonal skills and responsible behaviors, which will enable them to be successful in school and life. LITERACY The students develop literacy skills that enable them to progress in reading, comprehension, and writing. Early in the year, the main focus is on phonological awareness and phonemic instruction. Once these early reading skills have been mastered, the reading instruction is student-centered through small groups using the Collaborative Classroom Curriculum. As a student’s reading fluency develops, they shift their attention to comprehension and making inferences. During this literacy block, the students are working independently on Word Work and Writing, including sight words and rule- based spelling. In kindergarten, the students are introduced to Writers Workshop. They learn the beginning aspects of writing, including how-to, informational, and fiction writing. MATHEMATICS Levine Academy’s Beck Lower School has adopted the Everyday Math Fourth Edition program. This comprehensive program teaches basic math skills in a real world context, encouraging learners to think conceptually and mathematically. Students are encouraged to reason through problems and engage themselves in a wide variety of math related activities. The curriculum includes diverse concepts such as number sense, introduction to number stories, non-standard units of measure, 3-D shapes, addition, and subtraction. The program itself provides opportunities for differentiation at every level while still teaching within the range of one concept or skill. The Kindergarten thematic units are social studies and science-based, with a variety of topics that interest kindergarten aged children. These units of study range from historical characters to life science. During these units, the students participate in read aloud books, informational technology and hands- on projects to help them develop a deeper understanding of the subject. Additionally, kindergarteners visit the lower school science lab twice a week and have instruction with our lower school science teacher. Kindergarten is a year of exponential growth and maturity. While academics is a big focus, it is just as important to teach the students skills that will help them be successful throughout their school careers. Each child is encouraged to be the best version of themselves as we learn to problem solve and show compassion in our relationships. SCIENCE The science curriculum in kindergarten is developed around the three main areas of natural sciences: physical, earth, and life. The students attend science class twice weekly. In the science lab kindergarten grade students use the knowledge gained during class to develop skills to plan and carry out investigations, analyze and interpret >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16

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