Curriculum & Instruction

Reading and writing are the fundamental skills to acquiring comprehensive communication and to achieve a professional understanding of literary principles necessary to succeed socially as well as academically; hence, both instructional components synchronize in an attempt develop the students' literacy competency. ELA Units are carefully curated to support students in all aspects of learning through listening, speaking, observing, and producing various forms of texts. These texts include various narrative, informational, and literary genres, as well as visual information, both on the written page and in digital mediums.The objective of teaching English language arts as developing in human beings the ability to use a wide repertoire of tools for communicating one’s own ideas, experiences, and perspectives, and for receiving, interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating the communication of others. ELA instruction will support students in constructing meaning, interrogate, and interact with their immediate environment and the world at large.

Mathematics provides an effective way of building progressive thinking, encourages logical reasoning, and mental rigor. In addition, mathematical knowledge plays a crucial role in understanding the contents of other environments, experiences, and  subjects such as science, social studies, inclusively music and art. Mathematics has a transversal nature that produces critical thinking. Mathematical literacy is a crucial attribute of students for living more effective lives as constructive, concerned and reflective citizens.The Math Units selected focus on computational skills, quantitative reasoning, spatial ability, and problem solving. Students will access their dexterity to manipulate numerals, values, and mathematical sentences to find one or more solutions.The complexity and rigor of the units require that students relatively collaborate with peers to produce sophisticated mathematical concepts and procedures.

The past, present, and future and integral part for students to understand in relation to their presence in the current society. The History Units offer students an opportunity to explore and question the decisions that have shaped the world accordingly. The common core standards traverse the gamut of geography, societies and civilizations, politics, and global occurrences. In Grade four a literary approach is used to explore the histories of California through narrative. One of the
unifying themes of this grade level is the story of
the many diverse peoples who came to California
both before and after it became a part of the
United States.The framework uses guiding questions at each grade level to direct instruction toward student
investigation and research, allow students to
explore topics in depth, and to answer important
questions for themselves. These guiding questions
are part of the inquiry-based approach of this C3
framework (College, Career, and Civic Life).  

The Twig Science Curriculum has been selected as the primordial leader in rethinking science in public education. The Science Units follow the 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate) to support students in their curiosity for the physical, metaphysical, theoretical, and hypothetical questions of the universe functions. Cross-cutting concepts help students explore connections across the four domains of science, including Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering Design.When these concepts, such as “cause and effect”, are made explicit for students, they can help students develop a coherent and scientifically-based view of the world around them. Furthermore, Science and Engineering Practices describe what scientists do to investigate the natural world and what engineers do to design and build systems. The practices better explain and extend what is meant by “inquiry” in science and the range of cognitive, social, and physical practices that it requires. Students engage in practices to build, deepen, and apply their knowledge of core ideas and crosscutting concepts. The Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) are the key ideas in science that have broad importance within or across multiple science or engineering disciplines. These core ideas build on each other as students progress through grade levels and are grouped into the following four domains: Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, and Engineering.

Physical Education Units follows a rigorous instruction to give students a fit-forward life passion for health. Physical education is the foundation of a comprehensive physical activity that motivates students to pursue a contentious drive for healthy and supportive environments. It is an academic subject characterized by a planned, sequential K–12 curriculum (course of study) that is based on the national standards for physical education. Physical education provides cognitive content and instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge, and behaviors for physical activity and physical fitness. Supporting students in setting goals will provide them with the ability and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. 

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing  self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the heart of the classroom. It provides an ongoing foundation for students that provides positive learning and safety. SEL helps develop and acquire the necessary skills to set and achieve goals; manage and understand their emotions; show empathy for others; make responsible decisions and establish-maintain and restore relationships. It helps enhance a students' ability to be successful not just in school, but also in life. Although there is not a set SEL Unit there are resources to support teacher, and parents with their students. Social emotional learning does not require a standard to make notice of the automatic emotional support all students deserve. This classroom engages in family circles to strengthen the camaraderie and friendships within the student's classroom culture.