CURRICULUM K-5
The Albert Gallatin Area School District adheres to the standards set forth by the state of Pennsylvania for all subjects and courses. These standards provide a clear set of academic expectations that all students should meet by the end of each grade level. Standards for each subject area can be accessed using the following links or by visiting pdesas.org to learn more.
MATHEMATICS
The Albert Gallatin Area School District’s curriculum is aligned with the Pennsylvania State Academic and Core Standards.
CORE CURRICULUM COMPONENTS
INTO MATH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt HMH)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s (HMH) Into Math © 2020 program was designed to provide a tailored learning experience that keeps students engaged in mathematics by allowing all students to experience success. HMH Into Math was built on the idea that long-term success is rooted in global mathematical reasoning abilities, not discrete competencies. Grounded in this premise, the solution emphasizes the development of a conceptual understanding that will allow students to transfer their knowledge to new situations and apply it to new contexts. The lessons are intentionally structured to ensure that procedural practice functions to reinforce conceptual knowledge. As they move through the solution, students build procedural fluency by drawing connections between new material and previously learned concepts (National Mathematics Advisory Panel, 2008).
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
In our elementary grades, K-2 students learn how to read through intense instruction focusing on fundamental skills needed to become a fluent and accurate reader. While adhering to Pennsylvania’s requirement of training teachers in Structure Literacy, our District is also committed to providing comprehensive structured literacy that is explicit, systematic, cumulative, diagnostic, and prescriptive. Our program uniquely addresses fundamental phonological skill building while building content knowledge through reading texts supporting those fundamental skills taught. It is our goal to broaden students’ knowledge base while fostering their ability to read, learn, and write independently. Our resources are aligned to the Pennsylvania State Academic and Core Standards.
CORE CURRICULUM COMPONENTS
HEGGERTY PHONEMIC AWARENESS CURRICLUM (K-2)
The Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum is a daily lesson program that helps students develop phonological and phonemic awareness skills. The curriculum teaches a variety of skills, including:
Rhyming, Blending, Segmenting, Adding, deleting, and substituting phonemes, Letter names, Sound recognition, Language awareness, and Recognizing alliteration.
GEODES (K-2)
Geodes® are information-rich books that provide emerging readers with an opportunity to build knowledge while practicing foundational reading skills.
REALLY GREAT READING (RGR) PROGRAM (K-5)
The District utilizes RGR PHONICS Programs for ALL students as an integral component to our comprehensive reading program.
There are 3 distinct programs within the RGR system:
Kindergarten – Countdown
Grade 1 – Blast
Grades 2-5 – HD Word
Wit & Wisdom (K-5)
Wit & Wisdom® is a comprehensive K–8 English language arts curriculum crafted to help students build the knowledge and skills they need to be successful readers, exceptional writers, and effective communicators. Wit & Wisdom is designed to pair with explicit and systematic foundational skills programs like our RGR programs. In addition, Geodes®, our accessible and information-rich books for emerging and developing readers, allow students to apply their growing decoding skills while building knowledge on topics that align with Wit & Wisdom modules.
Wit & Wisdom is also utilized as a means to integrate Social Studies and Science Content K-5.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Our Social Studies Curriculum includes teacher created units of study which are aligned to the Pennsylvania State Academic and Core Standards.
The Wit & Wisdom Language Arts Curriculum seamlessly integrates K-5 Social Studies standards by embedding rich, diverse texts and thematic units that encourage critical thinking about historical events, cultural contexts, and civic concepts. Through carefully selected literature, students explore the lives and contributions of various figures and communities, fostering an understanding of social structures and historical narratives. Activities such as discussions, writing assignments, and project-based learning promote interdisciplinary connections, allowing students to analyze and reflect on social studies topics while enhancing their language arts skills. This holistic approach not only enriches students' literacy development but also cultivates informed, empathetic citizens equipped to engage with the world around them.
SCIENCE
The school district's elementary science curriculum is thoughtfully designed to align with state standards, ensuring that all students receive a comprehensive and relevant education. In addition, the curriculum incorporates the new STEELS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Environment, Literacy, and Society) standards, fostering an interdisciplinary approach that promotes critical thinking and real-world problem-solving. This alignment not only prepares students for future academic success but also equips them with the skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
CORE CURRICULUM COMPONENTS
Mystery Science
The elementary science program provides our students an opportunity for hands-on learning. Each lesson presents a "mystery" that encourages students to explore and investigate fundamental scientific concepts through interactive videos and thought-provoking questions. Designed to promote inquiry-based learning, the program fosters curiosity and critical thinking as students collaborate to find answers and conduct experiments.
.