D.C.S. Curriculum

Curriculum Summary
The following is our curriculum summary by grade level.

Special Education students will be served according to their Individual Education Plans (IEP) and will be included in the regular classroom. A Special Education teacher works with the regular education teacher to ensure compliance with IEPs. Students on 504 Accommodation Plans will be instructed in the regular classroom. Limited English Proficient students will also receive regular education instruction, but an Individual Education Plan for ESL will be developed. Our Principal will monitor these goals.

Our state-standards based curriculum has a technology integration component that is unique among elementary schools. Additionally, the character education is interwoven throughout the curriculum.

Kindergarten
The students will spend their day in a literacy building environment, which combines basic skills in phonics with hands-on, interactive language arts activities. Social Studies and Science will be integrated into the curriculum as thematic units to provide students with practice using their growing reading and writing skills.

Houghton-Mifflin Reading is used from Kindergarten through 6th grades.

Math will be taught using the Saxon Math program (and manipulative activities). Much of the "recess" or structured playtime will be spent in centers that will give students practice with skills learned. This is also a time to build the gross motor and social skills.

Art, Music and PE will also be part of the Kindergarten curriculum.

Grades 1 - 2
The primary grades continue the literacy building environment with a focus on writing. A systematic phonics program is used to teach children spelling, reading, and writing. Thematic units in Science and Social Studies further the practice of basic skills learned. Children's literature is introduced and literature studies are begun.

Houghton-Mifflin Reading is used from Kindergarten through 6th grades.

The students will continue practicing their skills in math (Saxon) while problem-solving skills are introduced. With their new reading skills, students will be able to solve real-life math problems.

Art, Music, Computer and PE will also be part of the 1st and 2nd grade curriculum.

Grades 3 - 4
Third and fourth grades are important benchmark years between Foundations Standards and Essentials Standards. Students will move beyond the basic skills to deepen their understanding of many types of literature and to continue development of written expression.

Houghton-Mifflin Reading is used from Kindergarten through 6th grades.

Higher-ordered thinking skills will be developed through the further use of thematic units in Science and Social Studies, including Geography. Mathematics will expand to include more abstract concepts and problem solving. Emphasis will be placed on writing in Math - being able to explain why a solution or method was chosen - instead of simply writing an answer.

Art, Music, Computer and PE will also be part of the 3rd and 4th grade curriculum.

The Middle School Approach toward Instruction and Student Learning

Middle school is an approach to instruction and student learning. This approach focuses on meeting the developmental needs of students in the pre-adolescent and adolescent age group; middle school is a unique, comprehensive way of responding to students' academic, physical, emotional and social needs through curriculum, teaching and learning methods, student groupings, interaction with teachers and peers, and scheduling.

The middle school curriculum and instruction is specifically designed to develop the whole child through active learning, problem solving, application of knowledge and skills, experimentation, self-exploration, peer interaction, and school and community involvement. It provides a caring, supportive and cooperative environment, personalizes the learning experience, and gradually prepares them for the transition from elementary to high school.

Grades 5 - 6
With their developing social and emotional needs, each 5th and 6th grade class will have Community class. This class is designed to teach character, citizenship, and study skills. Students will have class meetings to discuss issues and plan community activities.

Houghton-Mifflin Reading is used from Kindergarten through 6th grades.

Students will participate in literature studies, research projects, and thematic units in Science and Social Studies. Math concepts will include the introduction of algebra and probability along with further practice of basic skills and problem solving.

Art, Music, Computer and PE will also be part of the 5th and 6th grade curriculum.

Grades 7 - 8
Instructional Day: 6.00 hours

Grades 7 and 8 mark the transition from the Essential Standards to the Proficiency Standards in high school. Emphasis will be placed upon developing the students' higher-ordered thinking skills. They will be stretched to go beyond the basics to higher levels of research, writing, and problem solving in both real life and textbook scenarios.

Community is also a key component of the 7th and 8th grade program. Students are not only taught character and study skills, but are taught appropriate social interaction standards for young adults. It is important for children to learn appropriate boundaries and mutual respect before entering high school and eventually the workplace.

Art, Music, Computer and PE will also be part of the 7th and 8th grade curriculum.

Curriculum Components
Destiny Community School's curriculum components include, but are not limited to:

Houghton-Mifflin Reading
Reading A to Z
Systematic Phonics
Saxon Math
Interdisciplinary Thematic Units
Research projects
Multiple intelligences units of study
Character education activities
Writer's Workshop
Fine Arts
Physical Activity
Wide use of technology