North Babylon School District

Welcome to the Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Page

In North Babylon, we are committed to providing a high-quality educational experience for all our students from Pre-K through Grade 5. Our curriculum is designed to foster a love of learning, promote critical thinking, and build a strong academic foundation that supports students’ growth and success throughout their educational journey.

We took a thoughtful and strategic approach to selecting and developing our curriculum, ensuring it aligns with New York State standards while meeting the diverse needs of our students. By carefully analyzing state guidelines and educational objectives, we crafted a curriculum that integrates core subjects such as English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies with enrichment areas like Art, Music, Physical Education, and Technology while fostering academic growth and personal development. Throughout the process, we prioritized adaptability and inclusivity, ensuring that our materials and teaching methods support students of varying learning styles and backgrounds. This approach ensures our students are not only prepared to meet state expectations but are also equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed in their future academic and personal endeavors. First Day

"Where learning meets possibility and curiosity leads the way!"

At North Babylon Elementary, we use the Fundations and Fountas & Pinnell programs to provide a robust reading curriculum designed to meet the diverse needs of our students. Here's an overview of how these programs work and their role in our reading instruction:

Fundations is a comprehensive, research-based phonics and spelling program. It is designed to build a strong foundation in reading and writing by focusing on:
1. Phonemic Awareness: Developing the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words.
2. Phonics: Teaching the relationship between letters and sounds, helping students decode words effectively.
3. Fluency: Improving the speed and accuracy with which students read, promoting smooth and expressive reading.
4. Vocabulary: Expanding students' word knowledge to support comprehension.
5. Spelling: Reinforcing the connection between sounds and their corresponding letters or letter patterns.
Fundations provides structured lessons that are systematic and explicit, ensuring that foundational skills are taught in a clear and organized manner. This program is especially beneficial for early readers and those who need additional support in developing essential reading skills.

Fountas & Pinnell is a widely recognized system for reading instruction that focuses on:
1. Guided Reading: Small-group instruction tailored to students' individual reading levels, allowing for targeted support and instruction.
2. Benchmark Assessment: Regular assessments to determine each student's reading level and monitor progress, helping to guide instruction and group placement.
3. Literacy Activities: Engaging and diverse texts that match students' interests and developmental stages, promoting a love for reading and increasing comprehension skills.
4. Differentiated Instruction: Providing different levels of text and varied teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of each reader.
The Fountas & Pinnell system supports a balanced literacy approach, combining direct instruction with opportunities for students to practice and apply their reading skills in meaningful contexts.

Integration of Both Programs

By integrating Fundations and Fountas & Pinnell, we create a well-rounded reading program that addresses both foundational skills and higher-level reading strategies. Fundations provides the building blocks for decoding and fluency, while Fountas & Pinnell offers a framework for applying those skills in increasingly complex texts.

Together, these programs help ensure that all students receive the support they need to become proficient and confident readers. Through a combination of systematic instruction and personalized support, we aim to foster a lifelong love of reading and learning in every student at North Babylon Elementary.
In North Babylon, the Writer’s Workshop approach is used to deliver writing instruction across grades K-5, aiming to build students’ writing skills and foster a love for writing from an early age. Here’s how the Writer’s Workshop model might be implemented in this context:

Overview of Writer’s Workshop in North Babylon:

Writer’s Workshop provides a structured yet flexible framework for writing instruction, emphasizing the writing process and student engagement. Here’s how it generally unfolds in an elementary setting:

Key Components of the Writer’s Workshop Model:

1. Mini-Lesson:
- Focus: Each session begins with a short, focused lesson on a specific aspect of writing, such as narrative structure, grammar, or descriptive language.
- Demonstration: Teachers model writing techniques or strategies, often using examples and think-alouds to illustrate the concept.
2. Independent Writing Time:
- Practice: Students work on their individual writing projects, applying the skills and strategies discussed in the mini-lesson.
- Choice: Students have the freedom to choose their topics and genres, encouraging engagement and ownership of their writing.
3. Conferencing:
- One-on-One: Teachers meet with students individually or in small groups to provide personalized feedback and support.
- Goal Setting: Conferences focus on helping students set and achieve specific writing goals, addressing strengths and areas for improvement.
4. Sharing and Peer Review:
- Sharing: Students have opportunities to share their work with peers, which can include reading aloud or displaying writing in a shared space.
- Feedback: Peers provide constructive feedback, helping students to see their work from different perspectives and learn from one another.
5. Revision and Editing:
- Revision: Emphasis is placed on the importance of revising and improving drafts based on feedback.
- Editing: Students learn and practice editing skills, focusing on grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
6. Reflection:
- Self-Assessment: Students reflect on their writing process, evaluate their work, and set goals for future writing projects.
- Teacher Reflection: Teachers assess students’ progress and adapt instruction to meet individual needs.
At North Babylon Elementary, we are excited to incorporate the Savvas Easy Bridge Math Program into our curriculum. This program is designed to provide a seamless transition for students moving from elementary to middle school math, ensuring they build a strong foundation in mathematical concepts and skills. Here's an overview of what makes the Savvas Easy Bridge Math Program a valuable component of our math instruction:

Key Features of Savvas Easy Bridge
1. Grade-Level Transition Support:
  - Savvas Easy Bridge focuses on bridging the gap between elementary and middle school math, helping students to transition smoothly. It emphasizes critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in higher-level math.
2. Comprehensive Curriculum:
  - The program covers a wide range of mathematical concepts, including arithmetic, geometry, fractions, decimals, and basic algebra. This ensures that students have a thorough understanding of key topics before advancing to more complex material.
3. Interactive and Engaging Content:
  - Savvas Easy Bridge uses interactive digital tools and engaging activities to make learning math enjoyable. The program includes multimedia resources, such as videos and interactive exercises, to help students grasp abstract concepts more concretely.
4. Personalized Learning:
  - The program offers adaptive learning paths to meet individual students' needs. It adjusts the difficulty of problems based on student performance, providing additional support where needed and challenging students to reach their full potential.
5. Real-World Applications:
  - Lessons are designed to connect mathematical concepts to real-world situations. This approach helps students see the relevance of math in everyday life and encourages them to apply their skills in practical contexts.
6. Formative Assessment and Feedback:
  - Regular assessments and immediate feedback are integral parts of the program. These assessments help track student progress and identify areas where additional practice or support may be needed.
7. Teacher Resources and Support:
  - The program provides educators with a wealth of resources, including lesson plans, instructional guides, and professional development opportunities. This support ensures that teachers can effectively implement the program and address diverse student needs.
Benefits for Students
- Confidence Building: By reinforcing foundational math skills and providing targeted support, the program helps build students' confidence in their mathematical abilities.
- Preparedness for Advanced Concepts: Students are better prepared for middle school math challenges, having developed a strong base in key concepts.
- Engaged Learning: Interactive tools and real-world applications make learning math more engaging and relevant, fostering a positive attitude toward the subject.
The Savvas Easy Bridge Math Program is a critical part of our commitment to providing a comprehensive and effective math education. By focusing on foundational skills and preparing students for future success, we aim to help every student excel in their mathematical journey.
North Babylon Elementary Schools incorporates a variety of curricula and instructional methods to engage students and meet educational standards. Our use of Mystery Science alongside NGSS standards provides a comprehensive approach to science education. As a program, Mystery Science is designed to make science learning engaging and accessible for elementary students. It focuses on inquiry-based and hands-on learning, providing a structured yet flexible approach to teaching science.

Mystery Science:

Mystery Science is a curriculum designed to make science engaging and accessible for elementary students. It often includes hands-on activities, videos, and interactive lessons that cover a range of science topics.
- Inquiry-Based Learning: Mystery Science emphasizes inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to ask questions, conduct experiments, and explore scientific concepts through investigation.
- Engaging Content: Lessons are designed to be engaging and relatable, using real-world questions and scenarios to make science relevant to students' lives.
- Teacher Support: The curriculum provides teachers with lesson plans, materials lists, and step-by-step instructions to facilitate the teaching of science concepts.
Integration of Mystery Science and NGSS:

Mystery Science aligns well with NGSS principles by focusing on inquiry-based learning and providing hands-on, experiential activities that mirror the NGSS approach. Schools using both Mystery Science and NGSS can benefit from:
- Alignment: Mystery Science lessons often address NGSS standards, helping to ensure that students meet the required performance expectations.
- Enhanced Engagement: The engaging format of Mystery Science can help bring NGSS standards to life, making complex concepts more accessible and interesting for students.
The North Babylon Social Studies Curriculum is aligned to the New York State K-12 Social Studies Framework. The NYS SS Framework is is designed to prepare students for college, careers, and civic life with courses that are rigorous and aligned to the New York State Learning Standards for Social Studies. The Social Studies Curriculum is an inquiry based student centered curriculum. All of the inquiry units are designed to teach the NYS Social Studies Practices.

Integrating cultural proficiency and diverse and equitable books into the teaching of social studies in New York State (NYS) at the elementary level can enhance students' understanding of various cultures, histories, and perspectives.

Areas of Focus:

Cultural proficiency involves recognizing and valuing the diverse cultural backgrounds of students and integrating these perspectives into the curriculum. This approach helps create an inclusive learning environment where all students feel represented and respected.
- Self-Awareness: Educators should reflect on their own cultural biases and how these might impact their teaching.
- Cultural Knowledge: Learn about the cultures represented in your classroom and incorporate this knowledge into your lessons.
- Inclusive Practices: Develop teaching practices that respect and celebrate diversity.
Selecting Diverse and Equitable Books:

Using a variety of books that reflect different cultures, experiences, and viewpoints is crucial for an inclusive social studies curriculum. Here’s how you can select and use these books effectively:
- Diverse Representation: Choose books that feature diverse characters and perspectives, representing a range of ethnicities, cultures, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Authentic Voices: Look for books written by authors from the cultures or communities they are representing. Authentic voices help ensure accurate and respectful representation.
- Multiple Perspectives: Incorporate books that provide different viewpoints on historical events, societal issues, and cultural practices.
Integrating Diverse Books into Social Studies:

Curriculum Design:
- Thematic Units: Design social studies units around themes that allow for the inclusion of diverse perspectives. For example, when teaching about communities, include books that showcase different types of communities and ways of life.
- Historical Events: Use diverse books to explore historical events from multiple viewpoints, helping students understand the complexity of history.
Lesson Planning:
- Read-Alouds: Incorporate diverse books into read-aloud sessions, using them to introduce or enhance social studies concepts.
- Discussion: Facilitate discussions about the themes, characters, and cultural contexts presented in the books. Encourage students to connect these discussions to broader social studies topics.
- Projects: Assign projects where students create presentations or reports based on the diverse perspectives they've learned about from the books.
By incorporating cultural proficiency and diverse, equitable books into social studies instruction, educators can help students gain a richer, more nuanced understanding of the world, foster empathy, and prepare them to be informed, respectful global citizens.

Student Council Elections at Belmont

Belmont Elementary School hosted student council elections on Thursday, October 17th. Fourth and Fifth-grade students campaigned for positions as the next school treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president. The candidates spent several weeks preparing for the election, creating and displaying posters throughout the school. As the final step in their campaigns, each student delivered a speech to students before all the fourth and fifth graders returned to their classrooms to cast their votes.

All of Belmont's future leaders are already shining bright!

Great job to Benjamin, Aleah, David, Matthew, Adalyn, Layla, Cheyenne and Jesse!