Curriculum

Wilson Reading Program directly and systematically teaches students how to fluently and accurately decode (read). The program is very interactive and multi-sensory and teaches using total word construction, not just phonics, so students learn to encode (spell) as they learn to read.

If your child has never received Wilson instruction before they will be administered the Wilson Assessment of Decoding and Encoding (WADE) to determine placement.

Decodable books and decodable passages will be used during 1-1 or small group reading instruction in class. Skills will be taught and students will be grouped by skill rather than by “level”. Skills taught follow a scope and sequence starting with simple cvc words increasing complexity to multisyllabic words. This allows for carry over and application of skills from Wilson to the classroom during their daily reading. Novels will also be used to expose students to higher level vocabulary and to enhance comprehension skills throughout the year.

iPad/computer based program that uses a systematic and structured approach for 6 critical areas of reading, that is aligned with the Science of Reading. This highly engaging program creates personalized learning paths for students and targets instruction to develop phonological awareness, phonics, structure analysis, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. This will be done in class and assigned for homework.

The Visualizing and Verbalizing program develops concept imagery - the ability to create an imagined gestalt from language - as a basis for comprehension and higher order thinking. The development of concept imagery improves reading and listening comprehension, memory, oral vocabulary, critical thinking, and writing.

Systematic phonemic awareness intervention with targeted instruction, based on student needs. 

Comprehensive step-by-step program for developing phonemic awareness skills and promotes orthographic mapping (mental process of permanently storing words that we see in print).

Writing is a complex combination of skills which is best taught by breaking down the process. The writing process involves a series of steps to follow in producing a finished piece of writing. JSCS teachers have found that by focusing on the process of writing, almost everyone learns to write successfully. By breaking down writing step-by-step, the mystery is removed and writer’s block is reduced. Most importantly, students discover the benefits of constructive feedback on their writing, and they progressively master, and even enjoy, writing.

Paragraphology®: Paragraphology® is a multisensory, comprehensive, scaffolded approach to writing and note-taking that can be easily utilized by children. Students are systematically taught a formula that guides them through the process of writing a basic paragraph to a comprehensive understanding of the five-paragraph essay. Through scaffolding, repetition, and practice of reading quality examples, producing work of their own, coding and unlocking writing prompts, and dissecting expository text, students learn the writing process inside and out.

The Writing Revolution: The Writing Revolution provides teachers with an evidence-based and proven instructional methodology, the Hochman Method®. The methodology rests on explicit, carefully sequenced instruction, building from sentences to compositions. The Hochman Method is not a separate writing curriculum but rather an approach designed to be adapted to and embedded in the content being taught in any subject area and at any grade level.

Framing Your Thoughts is a writing program that teaches written language sequentially and systematically. It is a multi-sensory program that uses written symbols as well as hand motions to represent each part of a sentence. 

Eureka Math Squared: This comprehensive math curriculum is designed for grades k-12 and focuses on deeper understanding, critical thinking, and real-world applications. Its learning design allows students to build a deep conceptual understanding of mathematics. 

LA includes multimedia lessons that teach and reinforce lessons covering phonics, fluency, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing processes and more.

Literature is a genre based course which aims to equip students with the skills necessary to analyze texts and express ideas regarding literary works in order for students to grow as confident readers, writers and thinkers.

The goal for mathematics is to develop each student’s number concept, strengthen and solidify each student’s number sense and have students work through all levels of mathematics with fluidity. During the introduction stages of new mathematical concepts, the use of physical manipulatives is important to develop understanding. Students work towards being able to pictorially represent the concept at hand. With this firm understanding in place, students work on traditional mathematical algorithms in order to solve problems with accuracy and efficiency. 

Students must have a strong mathematical number sense to build on as they move through the curriculum. The Jayne S. Carmody School teachers meet the individual student’s needs by tailoring grade level curriculum and spiraling back to basic number concepts as needed.

JSCS Upper School students will have a Focus Period with their Social Studies and Science teachers once a cycle. These classes will give students an opportunity to get clarification of content, study for upcoming tests and quizzes, preview upcoming lessons, and more.

All JSCS students are required to take Latin in 7th and 8th grade

This program teaches spelling concepts explicitly, systematically, cumulatively, and enjoyably! Through this structured language approach, students learn:

• Phoneme awareness and syllable stress patterns (phonology)
• Sound-spelling associations (phoneme-grapheme correspondence)
• Syllable spelling patterns and combinations
• Prefix, root, and suffix constructions (morphology)
• Sentence structure (syntax)
• Parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs)
• Idioms, figures of speech, and more

Developing Essential Grammar Skills : A Multi-sensory Approach teaches one part of speech at a time (beginning with nouns), while applying the same structured, sequential, and cumulative nature of the Orton Gillingham Approach, allowing students to master the various grammatical concepts.

Teaching grammar to students with learning differences explicitly is important because:
• It assists with comprehension skills
• It improves written expression
• It helps with cognitive organization & structure

The Writing Revolution's method enables educators to teach writing skills and content simultaneously. There's no separate writing class and no separate writing curriculum. Instead, teachers adapt the strategies and activities to preexisting curriculum and weave them into their content instruction.

The Get Smart Grammar Program teaches grammar in an approachable, interesting, fun, and visual way. Grammar concepts are taught in a specific order and paired with hands-on practice diagramming sentences. Each lesson consists of an introductory video, written notes and templates for notes, guided practice diagramming, independent practice diagramming, and periodic quizzes. 

Lexia Power Up is a computer based program that uses a systematic and structured approach for six critical areas of reading that is aligned with the Science of Reading. This highly engaging program creates personalized learning paths for students and targets instruction to develop phonological awareness, phonics, structure analysis, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. This will be done in class and assigned for homework.