School - Academics

Curriculum and Instructional Vision

Sarah Smith Elementary offers a consistent, rigorous instructional program for all students. The foundation for our programs is the Georgia Performance Standards required by the State Department of Education. But, the programs are enhanced and enriched far beyond the regular expectations. Common assessments offer us data for curriculum and instruction decisions based on our students’ needs. Our curriculum maps and academic programs ensure consistency from class to class and grade to grade.

Features of our curriculum are:

Reading
Implementation of SMART phonics program in all K-2 classrooms
Implementation of Junior Great Books program in all classrooms K-5
STAR Reading Assessments and Accelerated Reading Program
Differentiated instruction through Guided Reading - K-5
Treasures reading Series for Georgia Performance Standards
Integration of reading into the IB Units of Inquiry

Language Arts/Writing
Comprehensive grammar and writing program K-5
Treasures Grammar, Spelling, and Writing program
Mt Language
Lucy Caulkins Writing program materials K-5
Introduction of the writing genres K-2 (Informational, Persuasive, Narrative, Response to Literature)
Assessment of the Genres 3-5
Writing workshop, writer’s journals/notebooks, common editing checklist, cross-curricular writing

Mathematics
Full implementation of Everyday Mathematics - K-5
Use of manipulatives and games as a part of the math program
First in Math School-wide fact drills/contests
Georgia Department of Education Frameworks
“Protected” math block - 60 minutes, minimum
Everyday Counts Calendar Math in grades K-1

Science
IB Units of Inquiry
IB Exhibition - Required in 5th grade
Curriculum maps
Georgia Department of Education Frameworks
Harcourt Brace Georgia Science series
Mini Labs
Science Lab - ESEP Kits and Harcourt Brace Labs
High Touch-High Tech at all grade levels
Science/Social Studies/Technology Fair-Grade 3: small groups done in school; Grade 4 and 5: individual or partners

Social Studies
IB Units of Inquiry
IB Exhibition - Required in 5th grade
Curriculum maps
Georgia Department of Education Frameworks
Continue to use Time Travelers program
Opportunity to participate in the National Geography Bee -4th and 5th Grade
Science/Social Studies/Technology Fair-Grade 3: small groups done in school; Grades 4 and 5: individual or partners