Endeavour Elementary Core Programs
At Endeavour Elementary School, teachers follow a balanced literacy framework that engages children in a variety of literacy experiences.
Balanced Literacy Components
Reading Aloud - The teacher reads aloud to the whole class or small group.
Shared Reading - Using a text that all children can see, the teacher involves children in reading together.
Guided Reading - The teacher works with a small group of children who have similar reading processes.
Independent Reading - Children read on their own or with partners from a wide range of materials.
Shared/Interactive Writing - Teacher and children work together to compose stories.
Guided Writing - Teacher guides the process of writing and provides instruction through minilessons and conferences.
Independent Writing - Children write on their own.
Letter and Word Study - Teacher provides minilessons to help children learn more about how letters and words work.
The Daily 5 Reading Workshop
The Daily 5 reading workshop approach is a management system created by “The Two Sisters,” Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, as a way to keep students actively and independently engaged in literacy tasks while the teacher meets with small groups or individuals. The Daily 5 consists of five literacy tasks that leads students to a lifetime of literacy independence. These five tasks are:
- Reading to self
- Working on writing
- Reading to someone
- Listening to reading
- Word work (letter and word development)
Daily 5 website and learn more
The Writing Workshop
The writer's workshop approach is also a management system that allows teachers to conference with individuals and small groups while the rest of the class works independently on composing pieces. Within this workshop setting, students are independently engaged in one of the following stages:
- Pre-writing
- Drafting
- Revising
- Editing
- Publishing
Mathematics
Everyday Mathematics is the program our school uses in kindergarten through fourth grade. This program offers students hands on learning of math concepts through lessons, activities, and math games. The other benefit of this program is that core concepts are taught cyclically (periodically revisited) throughout the year. This allows learners of all abilities ample opportunities for practice and review. Please visit Everyday Mathematics for more information.
Social Studies
Our social studies curriculum is embedded in our English/Language Arts program. Whether it's reading the latest issue of Scholastic News, going on a virtual field trip with Google Earth, or using the National Geographic website to gather information for a research paper, our students are able to apply critical thinking and comprehension skills of social sciences in both reading and writing.
Science
New Haven Elementary utilizes a kit based science curriculum provided by the FOSS company (learn more about the FOSS kits). These kits provide a completely hands-on learning experience for our students where they learn to ask questions, experiment, and document their findings. This year, our students have built models, gazed toward the stars, analyzed rock samples, and constructed electrical circuits (just to name a few).