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Curriculum areas include:
Art
Computers
To
meet the state and district goals in the computer lab we focus on keyboarding, publishing, drawing, and Internet research The first graders are learning that it takes two hands to keyboard and not just two fingers.
The second graders are using the home row keys, and reviewing the use of two hands for the other keys. The third grade program reinforces the use of the home row keys as well as correct fingering for the
remaining keys. The goal for the third grade students will be to type 10 words per minute with 80% accuracy. To meet our publishing goal the children complete projects to learn and reinforce the skills of alignment,
formating font, inserting graphics, spacing, capitals, punctuation, saving, and printing. The children are using the draw tools (pencil, straight line, square, circle, paint brush, paint can, mixer, eraser,
typewriter, rubber stamp) in the program Kid Pix. For our Internet research the children visit only sites that have been bookmarked for them. They are learning that the Internet is a place for gathering information.
They use bookmarks to find the sites chosen for them, and also the back and forward buttons to navigate the site.
Language Arts
Library
All students visit the school library weekly for library instruction, story and book
selection. We encourage students to choose one book at their reading level. Non-fiction materials are encouraged to broaden learning styles and interests.
Math
Music
We use the nationally recommended Silver Burdett Ginn Curriculum, "The Music
Connection." This is a rich curriculum which covers all the Essential Academic Learning Requirements in Washington State for music. Music lessons have the following components: singing, moving, listening, music reading and instrumental work. This gives each child a breadth of experience and enjoyment.
P.E.
The Physical Education program at IRPS supports the curriculum by boosting the health, safety and physical fitness of our
children, and it encourages them to lead active lives. The program covers a broad spectrum of activities.
We work with beanbags, hula-hoops, jump ropes and participate in parachute activities.
We play with scooters, pogo sticks, hoppy balls, and stilts, There is exploration of locomotor and non-locomotor movement, and development of the basic movement skills (hopping, skipping, jumping, etc.)
Throughout the year the children will participate in various group games, stations and relays.
We climb and swing on the pull-out climbing frame, and love to tumble on our new rainbow mats. We work on numerous ball skills, participate in gymnastics, and enjoy folk and square dancing. We even put on a performance for families each spring. There is even time for soccer, softball, hockey, squareball, and kickball too! Sportsmanship is encouraged, and all children are active and successful.
Penmanship
Our school uses the Zaner Bloser Handwriting program to teach children to properly form their letters. Students are taught
how to correctly hold their pencil and paper. Letters of the alphabet and letter joinings are taught in groups that have common strokes.Teachers look for proper letter formation, correct alignment and proportion. A
written exercise should demonstrate proper slant, spacing, and line quality ( pressure).
Reading
During the 2000-2001 school year, the Open Court Reading Program was piloted in grade levels K-5, one classroom per grade
level.
The program was recommended to the Meridian School Board by the District Reading Committee. It was adopted by the Board and will be implemented beginning with the 2001-2002 school year for grades K-5. The Open Court Reading Program will align reading curriculum in grades K-5. This program provides a balance of literature and phonics while integrating other subject areas. Open Court's writing process correlates to the Six Trait Assessment Model and the state's Essential Academic Learning Requirements.
Respect Curriculum (Second Step + Character Education)
Second Step and Character Education are two Meridian School District adopted curriculums. By integrating aspects of both curricula, the Respect Program is being developed this year.
Second Step is a research-based program created by the Committee for Children to teach children tools for effective pro-social behaviors. The skills of empathy, impulse control, and anger management are taught through this curriculum. A goal of the Second Step program is to help children affect their environment positively, which in turn will build self-esteem and a readiness for academic learning.
The Character Education program consists of teaching and reinforcing the following nine Character Traits: Honesty, Responsibility, Compassion, Perseverance, Respectfulness, Cooperation, Citizenship, Courage, Tolerance
In developing the Respect Curriculum I have been integrating lessons from the Second Step program with Character Trait examples. I began the year by doing a lesson each month in each classroom on the topics of safe/unsafe school, empathy training and using "I-Messages" to solve problems. Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation, Compassion and Citizenship were highlighted Character Traits. January through the end of the school year I will be continuing lessons on problem-solving and anger management that emphasize the nine Character Traits.
Six Trait Writing
Meridian School District has adopted the 6-Trait Analytical Model for writing assessment. The students are taught to write by
using these main focus areas, in order to demonstrate writing mastery. Ideas refers to the main message, or content, of the writing together with the details that enrich and develop the theme. Organization
is the internal structure of a piece of writing -the plot, the pattern. Voice
is the heart and soul, the magic, the wit, along with the feeling and conviction of the individual writer coming through in words. Word Choice is the use of rich, colorful, precise language that moves the
reader. Sentence Fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language, the sound of word patterns, or the way in which the writing plays to the ear. Conventions
are the mechanical correctness of the piece -spelling, grammar and usage, paragraphing, use of capitals, and punctuation. Good writing should include all these traits.
Social Studies
Spelling
Our school uses the SRA Spelling Series. The spelling word lists are based on specific spelling patterns that
encourage contextual learning through reading, writing, and review activities. Students are assessed on the weekly spelling word list, dictation sentences, and their daily work.
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