Below
you will find some information about the curriculum at the Duluth Edison
Schools – click on the link for the grade level you are interested in.
Primary
and Elementary Academy Information - Kenwood and Raleigh, grades K-5
Junior
Academy Information - Washburn Edison, grades 6-8
PRIMARY
AND ELEMENTARY INFORMATION BY SUBJECT
Reading
Reading is taught
in small classes of students all working at the same level. We emphasize
cooperative learning and, for students who require additional support,
one-to-one tutoring. Phonics, word-attack, comprehension, and study
skills are taught through a literature-based approach. Success for
All, a research-based program developed at Johns Hopkins University, relies
on prevention and intensive intervention.
Math
Our K-5 schools
use Everyday Mathematics. Everyday Mathematics has three basic parts
to its philosophy. First, it is a curriculum that emphasizes conceptual
understanding while building a mastery of basic skills. Secondly,
it is a curriculum that explores the full mathematics spectrum, not just
basic arithmetic. And last of all, it is a curriculum based on how
children learn, what they're interested in, and the future for which they
must be prepared. This program also has daily homework assignments
that start in kindergarten all the way through fifth grade.
Writing
Students begin to
write in Kindergarten. They learn how to write the letters as they learn
their sounds. Kindergarten and first grades focus on Emergent Literacy.
By the middle of first grade, students begin to use our two different curriculums,
Writer’s Express and Step Up to Writing, and will continue to use these
through fifth grade. Learning the steps in the writing process and
grammar are skills taught in the Write Away/Writer’s Express curriculum.
The Step Up to Writing provides our students with organizational tools
for the different styles of writing. Narrative, Problem/Solution,
Descriptive and Clarification are the four styles of writing our student’s
are exposed to. Poetry, research papers, and letter writing are other skills
they will learn how to do.
Science
Active, hands-on
explorations help students build their understanding of the key scientific
concepts and big ideas that explain our world. Students regularly
work through topics in the areas of physical science, earth and space science,
life science, and science and technology.
Social Science
Social Science is
carefully designed around the four main strands of social studies for state
and national standards of - history, geography, civics, and economics
- so that key concepts are introduced at developmentally appropriate times
in ways that are fun, engaging, and most importantly memorable. We include
a blend of traditional and multiple-intelligence assessments beginning
at second grade. The traditional assessments prepare students for high
stakes testing while the multiple -intelligence assessments allow them
to show what they have learned in a variety of ways. Our mission
is to engage all learners so that social studies becomes one of their favorite
subjects.
Spanish
Beginning in kindergarten,
students acquire a second language by learning conversations and culture,
with the long-term goals of being able to communicate fluently in Spanish.
Primary academy focuses on becoming familiar with greetings/farewells,
expressing feelings, classroom people and objects, family, clothing, colors,
weather, animals, days of the week, months, body parts, numbers and other
miscellaneous vocabulary. Elementary academy uses the Hola
curriculum which includes a variety of learning methods to help students
acquire and use the Spanish language. This curriculum and supplemental
materials expose students to a variety of cultural lessons that enhance
cultural awareness and sensitivity to Spanish speakers around the world.
In addition, students become familiar with writing Spanish through grammar
lessons and other writing activities. Spanish class also incorporates
other subjects to help student achievement.
Drama
At Kenwood Edison,
students in grades 2 through 5 are offered drama for one semester each
year. In the primary academy, students focus on exploring the senses,
creative movement, the physicalization of animals and inanimate objects,
miming actions and emotions, and creating improvisational skits based on
a given who, what, and where. In the elementary academy, we continue
to build acting skills by exploring emotions in much greater depth, creating
characters with a specific personality and then incorporating those characters
into improvisational skits, analyzing dramatic literature, and exploring
the technical aspects of theatre production.
Art
Students at the
elementary level are using a variety of tools and materials to express
different ideas and concepts in art. Students at this level are also
beginning to learn about different cultures and artists, as well as starting
to respond to and describe personal and professional artwork.
We also strive at the elementary level to include cross-curricular lessons
which incorporate the subjects of math, technology, reading, writing, science
and social studies into our art projects and curriculum.
Music
Kindergarten through
fifth grade students experience music through singing, playing instruments,
moving, creating, reading, notating, and listening. With the
use of many great resources, including Silver Burdett’s nationally acclaimed
music curriculum Making Music, students learn the elements of music and
connect to styles, cultures, and other disciplines.
Physical Education
The road toward
a lifetime of healthful habits begins in the Primary and Elementary Academies.
In the area of physical fitness, the emphasis at this level is on developing
health related competence and self responsible learners who possess the
knowledge to individualize and personalize their own active lifestyle.
We aim to develop students' skills in sports and games, but take great
care not to overemphasize competition. We believe that learning basic
motor skills, through a variety of different activities, provides the competence
that leads to confidence and enjoyment of physical activity for a lifetime.
Health
Our health curriculum
is closely related to both the science and the character and ethics curricula.
Students learn how to make informed decisions and how to evaluate the ramifications
of those decisions. The nutrition program stresses healthful choices
among the food groups, with special attention to heart-smart eating and
developing healthful habits that will last a lifetime. In the area
of personal safety, we reinforce basic safety skills in order to help students
stay safe in their immediate environment. The human biology component
of the program teaches students about the circulatory and respiratory systems
and about the effects on the body of regular physical activity and healthful
habits.
WASHBURN
EDISON JUNIOR ACADEMY
Reading
Reading
in the Junior Academy is an extension of the Johns Hopkins University research
based Success for All reading program. Students work on vocabulary
development, understanding literary terms, and evaluating reading level
appropriate literature and works of nonfiction. It uses a variety
of literature genres to stress thinking skills and pleasure and purpose
in reading. Students are encouraged to read independently and write reports
on books outside of class. We continue the Edison tradition of encouraging
students to read 20 minutes a night.
Writing
The
writing curriculum focuses on the writing process – prewriting, drafting,
revision, editing, proofing and publishing. Students are expected to write
in a variety of forms such as personal narratives, summaries, persuasive
letters and research papers. Students also complete daily oral language
or editing assignments.
Math
We
use Prentice Hall Mathematics. The curriculum is enriched with new technology
aspects and real life application. Students are challenged to learn new
and exciting techniques for problem solving while integrating the basics
into homework problems. Students can also access online Internet help sessions
for each section of the new textbooks.
Science
The new science
curriculum used at the middle school is Science Plus, which integrates
physical, life and earth science into three levels. Science Plus is an
activity- and inquiry- based program that emphasizes the understanding
of concepts and processes, the use of technology, and skill development.
It uses the Constructivist Learning Model. In sixth grade the students
study the scientific method, patterns of living things, microorganisms,
chemical changes, matter. In seventh grade concepts covered are: plate
tectonics astronomy, interactions and diversity of living things, forces
and motion. In eighth grade students study life processes, particles, machines,
energy, light and sound.
Social Sciences
Sixth grade students
study ancient world history. Their topics include first civilizations,
ancient Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Greek and Roman cultures, Buddhism and
Hinduism, and the origins of democracy and Christianity. Seventh
grade students study the Middle Ages. Among their topics are the founding
of Islam, medieval Africa, Chinese and Indian Cultures, feudal Japan, the
development of the European nation states, the Renaissance, and the Americas
before Columbus. Eighth grade students study American history
up to Reconstruction. Topics covered include the first Americans, the Mayflower
Compact, colonial and revolutionary America, slavery in America, the structure
of the US government, Western expansion, Native American issues and the
Civil War. At all grade levels, students read, take notes,
participate in learning games, take tests, complete performance assessments
and projects, discuss issues and research items of interest.
Spanish
Our
Spanish program focuses on the four modalities of language acquisition
– reading, writing, listening and speaking. The curriculum offers several
ways for students to acquire and use language. Additionally, supplemental
materials, art projects, cultural studies and alternative assessments are
added to enhance learning. Topics included in the curriculum
include greetings, school, sports, hobbies, food/beverages, family, clothing
and colors.
Music
In our music program,
students build on the foundation they acquired in their K-5 years. Students
are given a choice of band or general music. Those who choose band will
play in a grade level band and have weekly lessons on their instrument.
Additional instrumental options are available by audition. Besides practice
and performance, music theory and skills are key. Practice is a critical
component of a band student's grade. In general music, students are introduced
to many different musical experiences as well as music history and theory.
An after school jazz band and an electives concert choir are also offered
through our music program.
Visual Arts
In
art class, students create their own artwork using a variety of art tools
and materials. They continue in their learning about the elements and principles
of art. Students identify, interpret, discuss and respond to their own
work and the work of classmates and professional artists. In the process,
they develop their understanding of visual art as a medium for exploring
people and cultures. Students work with a variety of media, techniques
and methods.
Physical Education/Health
When
they enter the Junior Academy, students’ bodies, emotions, and social interactions
are changing – some more quickly than others. These are the years when
some students begin to feel uncomfortable about changing in the locker
room or performing on the playing field. Some may decide to abandon physical
activity entirely. We help students understand that physical fitness is
for everyone, not just jocks or natural athletes, and that regular physical
activity is more important than the quality of one's performance. Through
a varied program that stresses individualized fitness goals, we help all
students understand the benefits of continuing the strenuous physical activity
they enjoyed in earlier academies. The health curriculum focuses on the
physical, mental, emotional and social growth of adolescence. The Edison
program carefully links the health, science, and character and ethics programs
when dealing with human reproduction. Students have opportunities to discuss
issues that are crucial to their health and well being at this special
time in their lives.
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