Star of the North Academy – SNA CURRICULUM
Star of the North Academy’s core academic program will use the following curriculum:
A) Elementary Language Arts: McGraw Hill: Wonders is an evidence-based K–5 ELA program, aligned to the Minnesota State Standards, that empowers students to take an active role in learning and exploration through reading, writing, and speaking. Wonders accommodates varied learning needs with instructional on-ramps, scaffolded supports, ELL resources, and data-driven differentiation to teach, reteach, or extend. Content area learning is embedded in literature and Leveled Readers at three complexity bands—and a fourth level for English language learners. Leveled Readers are the core instructional resource for small group instruction. All students receive at-grade level reading for 30 minutes in home room followed by 120 minutes of Walk to Read. The Walk to Read program has students walk to the teacher who teaches them reading at their instructional level. Here students experience guided reading based on the Jan Richardson approach to literacy.
B)Middle School Language Arts: Grade five uses the Wonders reading curriculum. Grades 6- 8 literacy instruction is a combination of novel studies and Collections. Collections, an HMH digital and print program, develops students’ abilities to analyze complex texts, determine evidence, reason critically, and communicate thoughtfully.
B) Elementary Math: HMH Math Expressions: Based on research funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Math Expressions is used in grades K-4. Students make sense of math by exploring, discussing, and demonstrating their understanding of key concepts, becoming creative thinkers and problem solvers.
Middle School Math:
C) Social Studies:
D) Elementary Science is delivered through the use of Mystery Science, a standards-aligned curriculum with a hands-on approach that teaches students to think like scientists. Students experience engaging investigations that help them understand the world around them.
Middle School Science: Science Fusion is a state-of-the-art science program designed for developing inquiry and promoting use of language including reading comprehension skills for informational text and writing. The digital curriculum, virtual labs and hands-on activities, and write-in science textbook develops important critical thinking and language skills that prepare students for success in future science courses and in the workplace.
E) Technology, Art and Music will be integrated into the other subject areas.
F) Physical Education will be aligned to state standards. The Physical Education Teacher will develop the curriculum.
Star of the North Academy’s core academic program will use the following instructional practices:
1. Pacing Guide & Curriculum Mapping
Teaching to the standards with fidelity will be the key driver of Star of the North Academy academic success. A teacher-created pacing guide will ensure that grade-level standards will be taught using the school’s adopted curriculum by year’s end, and for grades 3-8, before the MCA tests. Backwards design will be used to set instructional goals followed by choosing instructional methods and forms of assessment. Comprehensive curriculum maps will lay out a detailed road map for instruction including standards benchmarks, time frames, essential content questions, content objectives, skill development, and assessment.
2. Lesson Planning and Daily Instruction
Weekly lesson plans will focus on the Gradual Release model and daily instruction will follow the GRR protocol “I Do, We Do Together, You Do Together and You Do.” Lesson plans for each teacher/grade level will be critically monitored by the Academic Director for content and rigor.
3. Response to Intervention
SNA will use RtI as a pre-referral intervention and as a regular education strategy. It will also emphasize alternatives or interventions that are designed to assist the student in general education before resorting to special education services. These pre-referral interventions might include Section 504 accommodation plans, tutoring, and other support services. Star of the North will have highly trained teachers committed to implementing Tier 1 with a high degree of integrity and fidelity. SNA’s Tier 1 approach is intended to support most students, regardless of any IEP accommodations, in attaining assessment outcomes that meet minimum proficiency benchmarks. While Tier 1 includes all students making adequate progress, at Star of the North Academy all students will also benefit from data informed, personalized small group or 1-on-1 teacher intervention. This personalization, and move away from the whole-group model of instruction, helps ensure that most SNA students stay within Tier 1. The results of well-implemented RtI models indicate that around 75%–80% of children should be expected to reach successful levels of competency through Tier 1 delivery. SNA will also contract with a respected and highly knowledgeable director of Special Education, who will oversee the licensed, full-time Special Education teacher and assist SNA in contracting with specialists to meet the needs of each student with an IEP.
If, as monitored through assessment and observation, the student is not responding to the first level of interventions, SNA will provide Tier 2 interventions, which are more intensive and targeted than Tier 1. Tier 2 interventions will be designed by a Student Success Team, and they will more closely target the areas in which the child is having difficulty. Students in Tier 2 may move primarily to 1-on-1 intervention with instructors and focus on improving instructional-level as well as grade-level skills. Their learning plans will be adjusted accordingly and reviewed within six weeks to monitor growth and progress made. The time allotted to see if the child responds to interventions in Tier 2 may be longer than in Tier 1, but the overall process is much the same. If the child shows adequate progress, then the intervention along with IEP accommodations has been successful. It is possible that, if the problem is caught early enough and addressed via appropriate instruction, the child can learn the necessary skills and continue with IEP accommodations in general education without a Tier 2 Intervention.
If the child does not respond adequately to the intervention(s) in Tier 2, then a third level becomes an option for continued and yet more intensive intervention such as an increase in the frequency of specific direct instruction as intervention, shorter assignments to show mastery, and increased time for completion. Placement in Tier 3 at Star of the North would indicate a high need, given the already highly personalized and individualized nature of SNA’s model in Tiers 1 and 2.
4. Data Analysis
Data analysis of summative and formative assessments will help teachers plan whole class intervention strategies and small group remedial instruction. A targeted response to data will increase the overall success rate of proven to be successful. These components will be utilized at Star of the North Academy as well. Through early dismissal on Friday’s teachers will be allowed the time to analyze assessment data on a weekly basis. Data will be analyzed at the classroom and grade level. Teachers will look at class wide and individual student scores to determine the success in learning. They will also examine the standard and benchmark data to determine the outcome of their instruction and create re-teach or intervention lessons as needed. When a high percentage of students are scoring low on a particular strand it should be a clear indicator that the teacher has failed in delivery of the knowledge and will need to redevelop the lesson and provide additional instruction to the entire class. If individual students have not grasped the concept the teacher will provide small group or individualized intervention to those students. These intervention lessons must be carefully planned and implemented to assure student success. Scholars should be re-assessed following the intervention to assure mastery of the skill.
Click the link below for ESL Program Description
ESL Program is Under Construction
Literacy Plan