All About Academics
June Updates from Academic Curriculum Coordinators
Welcome to our final installment of All About Academics for the 2022-2023 School Year!
We have included spring and summer updates about each content area, some dates to remember, and loads of clickables for more information. Enjoy!
Seamless Summer Learning
Click below to help your child take advantage of learning opportunities at home this summer!
Our Library Media Specialists collaborated to curate a robust Summer Reading recommendation hub. Click here to see what is recommended for your student's school, grade level, and interests!
---------------------------- Content Area Updates ----------------------------
English Language Arts
Elementary:
Spring is a time to celebrate progress in reading and writing skills made over the course of the school year. It is a great time to reflect on the types of books that your student was reading at the beginning of the year versus the end and the type of writing produced at the beginning of the year until now. Review written artifacts that come home with your student and ask them about how they feel they have grown. Plan to acquire the books they would like to read this summer. Check out the summer reading recommendations above by our library media specialists and consider signing up for a summer reading program at one of our local libraries!
Fundations: Students in grades K-3 have learned a great deal of foundational reading skills this year. Click below on your student's grade level to see the Fundations year end outcomes.
Kindergarten Fundations Curriculum Outcomes
Grade 1 Fundations Curriculum Outcomes
Grade 2 Fundations Curriculum Outcomes
Grade 3 Fundations Curriculum Outcomes
Vocabulary Workshop: Students in grades 4 & 5 have acquired new vocabulary words to support reading and writing. Consider reviewing and reinforcing some of the words learned this year through games this summer!
These are the final units in reading and writing. Ask your child about what they read and wrote about during these units.
Kindergarten: Becoming Avid Readers & Persuasive Writing
Grade 1: Reading Fiction - Meeting Characters and Writing From Scenes to Series
Grade 2: Writing Fiction and Series Books
Grade 3: Social Issues Book Clubs and Writing Once Upon a Time
Grade 4: Reading Through the Lens of Power & Perspective & Boxes and Bullets: Personal and Persuasive Essays
Grade 5: Fantasy Book Clubs - Shaping Texts from Essay and Narrative to Memoir
Middle School: Middle school students in Grades 6-8 are completing the following reading units and their complimentary writing units: Non-Fiction (6th), Poetry and Drama (7th) and Dystopia (8th). Please make sure to review and reflect upon the eighth grade capstone project with your student. We are looking forward to rolling out newly written writing units next year.
Want to learn more about what your child is learning in ELA?
Contact Kim Paladino: kimberly_paladino@greenwich.k12.ct.us, head to our website, or click on the banner below.
Mathematics
Elementary: We have almost completed year two with Big Ideas Mathematics. SBA testing is over, and courses are racing to the finish line. While students have a myriad of fun activities like Field Day, class parties, and fun field trips, they are still finding time to fit in mathematics and will do so until the very last day. A huge thanks to all teachers and staff that supported instruction. K-5 math students will finish up the third trimester strong with a focus on the following concepts:
Kindergarten: Measure and Compare Objects
Grade 1: Equal Shares
Grade 2: Identify and Partition Shapes
Grade 3: Find Perimeter and Area
Grade 4: Identify Symmetry and Two-Dimensional Shapes
Grade 5: Classify Two-DImensional Shapes
Middle School: Our dedicated middle school math teachers crushed it this year! They engage in a constant cycle of refinement to best meet the needs of their students. Instruction will go to the very last day with a focus on the following:
Course 6: Statistical Measures and Data Displays
Course 6A: Statistical Measures and Data Displays
Course 7: Geometric shapes, angles, surface area, and volume
Pre-Algebra 6 & 7: Probability and Statistics
Pre-Algebra 8: Volume and Similar Solids
Algebra: Radical functions, equations, data analysis, and displays
Geometry: Circumference, area, surface area, and volume
Want to learn more about what your child is learning in math?
Contact Mike Reid: michael_reid@greenwich.k12.ct.us, head to our website, or click the banner below.
Science Program Updates
Elementary: We are so proud of our fifth-grade scholars for the determination and perseverance they displayed on the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) assessments in April and May. Our students showed what they know and worked hard to make their thinking visible! Currently, students in the K-5 classroom are on their final unit of the school year. Students are still modeling, collecting data, and engaging in scientific explanations based on evidence.
In the grades listed below, students are working on topics related to:
- Kindergarten: Weather
- Grade 1: Sun, Moon, and Stars
- Grade 2: Land and Water
- Grade 3: Earth's Materials
- Grade 4: Ecosystems and Energy Transfer
- Grade 5: Climate
Middle School: Similar to our fifth-graders, the eighth-grade students across the District completed their NGSS assessments in May. Across all three schools, students, and teachers were excited to share pride in their hard work on the challenging test. As we wind down the year, our middle school students are also entering their final units, all of which are focused on hands-on engineering. These activity-based units are centered around student experience and engagement.
- Grade 6: Designing Solutions
- Grade 7: Navigating Natural Hazards
- Grade 8: Using Technology to Sustain Our World
Want to learn more about what your child is learning in science?
Contact Tara Fogel: tara_fogel@greenwich.k12.ct.us, head to our website, or click on the banner below.
K-8 ESOL, FLES & WORLD LANGUAGES
K-8 ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages):
The ESOL Program spent this past spring hosting family engagement sessions. Our schools have hosted sessions on topics such as the importance of oral language as a stepping stone to learning literacy, a Wax museum of students acting as significant historical figures, a picnic peppered with delectable international foods and trivia, an Author’s tea event was held where student shared personal stories they authored.
Our eighth grade continuing ESOL students had the opportunity to visit GHS and learn about classes for next year from our wonderful GHS ESOL team and current students.
All families whose students are enrolled in the ESOL program will receive email communication this month from our ESOL specialists regarding the status of their English language instruction for next year.
K-8 Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES) and World Language (WL):
In K-2 FLES, students are completing units of language study on topics such as pets/farm animals, animal survival, as well as the natural life, respectively. Our Kindergarten students at ISD performed two songs in Spanish at the “This is us” show led by Señora Rivera.
In 3-5 FLES, students are participating in units of language study on topics such as life in school, biographies of famous people in the Spanish-speaking world, as well as travel. In addition, all fifth-grade FLES students receive confirmation of their Spanish and French World Language placements this month.
In grades 3-5 Native Spanish Language Arts, students are exploring topics such as the habitats of land and sea animals in the U.S and Mexico, and the power of storytelling in the target language.
We have many suggestions how your children can continue building and refreshing their World language skills at home this summer. Make sure to head to the list!
At the middle school level, students are also completing units of language study about a variety of communicative topics in order to prepare for the next level of spoken and written Spanish and French.
Want to learn more about what your child is learning in English for Speakers of Other Languages and World Language?
Contact Geoffrey Schenker: Geoffrey_Schenker@greenwich.k12.ct.us, head to our ESOL or FLES websites, or click on the banner below.
K-8 Arts: Visual Arts & Music
It has been an exciting close to the district's concert season with all the performances where students displayed all the hard work they have been doing since the beginning of the school year! In addition to our outstanding student performances, we have had some exciting staff recognition and events as well!
First I would like to congratulate Aaron Lofaro, our Central Middle School Orchestra Director, on being recognized as one of GPS Distinguished Teachers. Aaron spends countless hours in and out of school to bring such special opportunities to his students and is always willing to help a colleague in need. His award is well deserved and the department could not be prouder!
I would also like to recognize and congratulate our department retirees Karen Andersen, Band Director from WMS, and Patrick Taylor, GHS Choir Director! Both had impressive careers at GPS and we will miss them dearly! While they may be moving on to retirement, their traditions and legacy will live on in the music!
Spring is also an exciting time for student art shows! Take a look at the exciting artwork from our young artist from New Lebanon School below! The young artists in the district have been hard at work in their classes, using their creativity to demonstrate the various skills outlined in our curriculum. Your child's artwork will eventually be making its way home. This will be a perfect opportunity to discuss the skills that they learned in creating the work, what inspired the work, and even encouraging your child to create a new piece of artwork from what they have learned throughout the year. Materials found at home are perfect tools to inspire creativity! I have included some examples of the outstanding artwork hanging in the district.
Summer Learning
It is very important for students to continue being creative during the summer months. Creative play and music making reinforce brain development in identifying and creating patterns, recognizing emotions, word decoding and phonological skills, and much more! This is a perfect time to share these moments with your child and highlight how music and art surround them in our world.
The music and art teachers in the district has compiled a variety of activities that can assist you and your child to continue their learning in summer:
Seamless Summer Learning: MUSIC (including Instrumental)
These activities are simple suggestions on how to maintain and support music and art making during the summer months.
Another wonderful option to continue playing and art making throughout the summer is to take advantage of the Town of Greenwich Music & Art Camp. This camp runs for five weeks at Eastern Middle School for students starting in Grade 4 for music and students starting Grade 1 for the art experience. There are several options for your child! More information can be found HERE.
I am looking forward to hearing and seeing the artwork and music our students return with in the Fall!
Looking to continue to practice reading, math, science, and social studies over the summer? Visit the Seamless Summer Learning website. Your learner can continue to practice and deepen their understanding of reading skills, math concepts, and science topics.
Library Media Services
Updates from Our Elementary Schools
We are Getting Prepared for Grades 3-5 Chromebook Rollout for this Fall 2023!
Your Elementary Library Media Specialists (LMS) are at work, getting ready for this Fall's Chromebook rollout for Grades 3-5. As you may already know, the shift from iPads to Chromebook is supported by many reasons, including presence of a bigger and more reliable keyboard, increased accessibility for students in navigating screens, accessing sophisticated simulations and questions especially on testing platforms, and increased teacher flexibility to meet students' individual needs when working on digital platforms.
Elementary LMSs will be supporting the transition in multiple ways, including:
- Providing an overview to our building staff at the June staff meeting, and in partnership with our Information Technology Support Team, ready to address ongoing professional development needs throughout the school year,
- Delivering a revised robust Digital Citizenship curriculum, including the launch of keyboarding instruction for all Grades 3-5, and
- Incorporating a weekly 15-minute keyboarding practice opportunity across Grades 3-5 as part of our Library Media classes.
Our First Graders Visit Their Local Libraries!
The First Grade Assured Experience is a community partnership between Greenwich Public Schools and the Greenwich Library to provide all Grade One students with a tour of the Main Library, Byram Shubert, Cos Cob or Perrot Library.
Library Media Specialists from each elementary school coordinates this partnership with Greenwich Library Children’s Services staff of their local libraries. Through this experience, we collaboratively provide a consistent introduction to using the public library as a source for literacy, while also providing families with information on accessing additional programming for their children.
During our visit, the Greenwich Library staff provides a tour of the Library, highlighting areas and special programming relevant to children (i.e. Summer reading), distributes Library cards, and then, students have the opportunity select books to checkout.
Our visit to the Greenwich Public Library allows students to develop and boost positive attitudes about reading, books and the Library, an shared outcome for both Greenwich Public Schools and Greenwich Public Library.
Updates from our Middle Schools
Media Collection:
The annual Nutmeg Award winners have been announced for both Intermediate and Middle School categories! Click here for more info
In May and June there are book displays highlighting Asian American & Pacific Islander, and Pride Month.
Instruction:
The middle school media centers are highly involved in the seminal Capstone Project. First media specialists help students find and cite high quality resources with access to electronic databases. In preparation for GHS, all students use Noodletools to create works cited to documents to make a record of where they found their information.
Students can choose their presentation modality and those that chose to make a documentary utilize skills first introduced in their digital literacy courses.
School-wide Support:
Librarians help support Capstone Day by providing equipment, supplementary grading and other support. Click Here for a video from WMS
Academic Curriculum Coordinators
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Website: https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/k-8-curriculum
Location: 290 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT, USA