Guiding Beliefs:

• Children need a safe, encouraging and nurturing environment
• Learning should be engaging and inspire children to be lifelong learners
• Children have different learning needs and the curriculum and instruciton must meet those needs
• Fostering confidence is the key to success
• Data will drive decision making

School Goals:

•  KHA will make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as established by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) statute.
• Student proficiency rates will increase by at least 3% each year as indicated by student performance on the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP).
• Standards-based practices wil be used in each classroom.
• Our curriculum and instructional methods will meet the academic, social, physical and emotional needs of all students.

Curricular Overview:

Literacy/English Language Arts:

Literacy/English Language Arts at Kingston Hill Academy focuses on providing high-quality instruciton, identifying reading difficulties and developing literacy skills so that students may become life-long readers.  Descriptions of the programs we use are listed below.

Literacy by Design :

Literacy by Design (LBD) is a new, comprehensive, research-based reading and writing program for grades K-5.  The Program focuses on the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing; teaching students to read like writers and write like readers.  The Program incorporates instruction in each of the following areas:  phonics and phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, grammar and spelling; and uses instructional strategies that connect comprehension strategies across whole group, small group and independent settings.  LBD allows teachers to take each student's level into consideration and differentiate instruction to meet individual needs.

 Empowering Writers:

The Emplowering Writers program uses techniques, lessons and methodology that relate to real world experiences.  Designed and implemented over a five-year period, the Program was fine-tuned to bring a consistent, effective approach to the instruction of writing.  Empowering Writers supports the teaching of state standards.  The Empowering Writers program follows these principles:

• Understand that student responses are only as good as the quality of the questions we ask.
• Recognize that since children know more than they can articulate, we must model vocabulary that empowers self-expression.
• Teach the underlying structure and framework on which good writing is built and into which creativity is poured.
• Provide them with consistent and assured writing experiences, building upon one another in a logical, sequential fashion.
• Offer whole-class instruction, teacher modeling, guided practice opportunities, a logical scope and sequence for instruction and clear, measurable expectations.
• Establish consistency across and between grade levels in regard to specific writing skills, common vocabulary and learning outcomes.

Mathematics

Every student needs and deserves a rich and rigorous mathematics curriculum that is focused on the development of concepts, the acquisition of basic and advanced skills and the integration of problem-solving experiences.  Kingston Hill Academy encourages educators to provide such challenging mathematics opportunities to foster the growth of intelligent, thoughtful and mathematically-literate members of society.  At Kingston Hill Academy, we use an integrated approach to mathematics outlined in the program description below.

Harcourt Math:

HSP Math is the new basal K-6 math program from Harcourt School Publishers.  HSP Math, carefully reviewed by mathematicians, offers an assortment of learning materials designed to provide students with meaningful and diverse educational experiences.  It also provides teachers with instructional materials that offer easy planning, options and suggestions for every stage.  It aligns with the State of Rhode Island's Grade Level Expectations (GLE's) in the following areas:  numbers and operations, geometry and measurement, functions and algebra & data, statistics and probability.

Science

A foundation in scientific literacy prepares students to be confident and capable life-long learners who are equipped with the skills needed to access, understand, evaluate and apply information in various contexts.  Regardless of their academic standing, all students should have access to a rich and challenging science curriculum that will promote scientific literacy, while inspiring and supporting advanced study and science-related carreers. 

Kits in Teaching Elementary Science (KITES):

"KITES" is the East Bay Educational Collaborative's K-6 Science Curriculum.  It stands for "Kits in Teaching Elementary Science."  The KITES model is based on the premise that five areas must be addressed: top-notch standards-based curriculum materials, a system of replenishment and delivery to teachers, an ongoing program of professional development, a way to assess the program and its effectiveness with students, and a program to build community and administrative support.  The KITES curriculum is based on the use of science curriculum materials in the form of kits that were developed through funding from the National Science Foundation supporting national standards for science.  The KITES Program is part of a national movement that supports an inquiry-centered approach to learning science.  There is a great deal of research that suggests that student achievement is enhanced with this kind of program.  In addition, the connection is being made between improved reading and writing scores of students who engage in inquiry science experiences where these skills are emphasized.

Social Studies:

Social Studies at Kingston Hill Academy are taught with the primary focus being the development of language-based skills, like reading, writing, speaking and listening.  A rich and diverse set of historical and modern-day content that is enhanced by our literacy program drives our curriculum and provides students with multiple opportunities to think critically, express their views and develop the necessary skills to participate in the modern world.

Physical Education:

The goal of physical education at Kingston Hill Academy is to verse students in the concepts associated with health and wellness and provide students with the tools to build and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Students learn about various exercise and sports techniques, health issues, cooperation and self care.

NECAP Preparation:

The New England Common Assessment Program (Necap) is administered to all third, fourth and fifth grade students each fall.  This test is an assessment of student aptitude in the areas of Language Arts (Reading and Writing) and Mathematics.  A science NECAP is administered to fourth graders each spring.  Students are expected to meet proficiency levels in all areas of the test.  Kingston Hill Academy's overall approach to its curriculum is designed to hep students achive at proficient levels on the NECAP.

Spanish:

Spanish language exposure is one of the unique attributes of KHA.  Students are exposed to basic vocabulary and the principles of conversational Spanish.  It is our hope that students will gain a basic understadning of the language and experience great success with language learning in future educational experiences.

Art and Art Integration:

Students at Kingston Hill Academy are offered the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the visual arts by receiving instruciton focused on design and technique.  Students are able to participate in activities that are of interest to them, create and express their perspectives, critically evaluate artistic pieces and develop an apprecaiton for various art forms - all while learning methods and techniques that artists use to create.  In addition to more traditional art instruction, students participate in two Art Integration sessions each week.  The Arts Integration Specialist and the classroom teacher collaborate to develop art experiences for the students.  They are designed to enhance the curriculum and provide alternate ways for the curricula through art.

Music:

Each week, students receive music instruction.  Music at KHA is intended to teach students about an art form based on creating, performing and responding.  KHA believes that the more students understand the basic elements of music; the more they will enjoy the experience.  Music class at KHA offers a variety of opportunities to explore methods of artistic expression and enhance personal creativity.

Methods of Instruction:

The Kingston Hill Academy curriculum encourages use of a variety of pedagogical methods to meet the diverse needs of our students.  Teachers regularly evaluate students and make appropriate modifications to the curriculum based on individual needs.  The wide range of student abilities makes this type of pedagogical responsiveness and differentiation necessary for student success.  Kingston Hill Academy seeks to motivate students by creating relevant and meaningful learning experiences in which all students can experience success.

Kingston Hill Academy seeks to impart curriculum in a constructivist farme.  That is, the students actively construct their understanding while interacting with the content, the teacher and each other.  They are responsible for thier learning.  The staff is there to guide, to hold high expectations, to organize a series of relevant experiences and to present content and information.  The staff models appropriately for students and provides multiple opportunities for students to practice new skills and demonstrate success.

This curriculum at Kingston Hill Academy is a living framework, changing and adapting to student needs and state standards, as required.  Kingston Hill Academy believes that a curriculum must address trhe very real demands of the world we live in, and, we are systematically refining and improving the curriculum in purposeful and meaningful ways.

Technology- Click here to learn about KHA's technology inventory and initiatives as detailed in our Technology Plan.