Elementary Program: 1st - 5th Grades
Curriculum:
English Language Arts Curriculum
Teachers at Nesbit school use a Balanced Approach to Literacy which includes Reading and Writing Workshop, Word Study, Interactive Read-a-Loud and Small Group Instruction. An integral component of a Balanced Approach to Literacy is assuring that children are reading and writing at their individual levels. Therefore, children receive reading instruction through books that are at their instructional reading levels and practice reading at home at their independent reading levels. Small Group Instruction assures that children receive the level of teaching they require in order to advance their academics.
Teachers at Nesbit school assess children in the area of reading using Fountas and Pinnell's Reading Assessments. In writing, Nesbit school assesses children utilizing Teachers College Reading and Writing Project's On-Demand Writing rubrics.
Reading and Writing Workshop
Teachers at Nesbit School follow the Units of Study published by Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. This genre based instructional format moves children through a series of units designed to increase their capacity to read and write effectively across all genres. Each Workshop begins with a whole class, explicit and directed "mini-lesson." These mini-lessons are designed to provide children with a repertoire of strategies they can use as readers and writers. After the mini-lesson, children then move into Independent Work where they build their skills as readers and writers. During this time, the teacher confers with children in either small group or individual sessions in order to build skills of specific learners not properly addressed during a mini-lesson. A Mid-Workshop teach to the entire class is often provided to the children based upon what the teacher notices in the readers and writers during the Independent Work session. Children then transition to Partner Share. The workshop model recognizes that children's work as readers and writers is enhanced when they are required to share their reading and writing with others. This act of "sharing" becomes, in effect, a way for children to further build and cement their understanding of reading and writing strategies. The workshop concludes with a celebration of the work that was accomplished during the workshop period.
K - 8 Reading Workshop Units of Study
K-8 Writing Workshop Units of Study
Phonics and Spelling Instruction
Children in grades K-2 participate in Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP) Phonics Units.
Children in grades 3-5 participate in Words their Way -- a differentiated phonics and spelling program. Dependent upon children's phonics and spelling abilities, they are grouped together and instruction to each group varies depending upon needs.
Math Curriculum
The math curriculum at Nesbit School is published by Math Expressions in grades K-5 and Connected Mathematics in middle schools.
Science Curriculum
The science curriculum at Nesbit school is published through Twig Science. See what your child will be learning by grade level - be sure to click on Program Overview and select your child's grade level..
Social Emotional Learning
Nesbit will implement the social emotional curriculum by Second Step. To view, the scope and sequence for the curriculum, please click social emotional curriculum.
Social Studies
The social studies curriculum is published through TCI.