Vision for Grades 4-6 Curriculum And Instruction

The School District of Milton administration, teachers and staff are dedicated to providing all students with a strong foundation of literacy, mathematics and developmental instruction established within the elementary and intermediate schools. The district recognizes the tremendous progress, growth and achievement that students obtain throughout the intermediate school years and is dedicated to helping all students meet appropriate levels of mastery and proficiency within the Common Core State Standards and Wisconsin Model Academic Standards provided for each grade level and subject. The School District of Milton offers many supplementary programs and learning supports to ensure students are identified for and receive early intervention (specifically in literacy and mathematics).

Balanced Literacy Framework

The School District of Milton has designed its literacy programming around a Balanced Literacy Framework. The Balanced Literacy Framework begins with the five essential elements of reading instruction including phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. It combines four elements of reading instruction (Reading Aloud, Shared Reading, Guided Reading and Independent Reading) and four elements of writing instruction (Modeled/Shared Writing, Guided Writing, Independent Writing, and Interactive Writing) to provide students with a comprehensive program for language acquisition.

Intermediate teachers utilize resources from Jan Richardson Guided Reading, The Daily Cafe, and Lucy Calkins to support literacy curriculum. Teachers’ curriculum, assessment and instruction are supported through Literacy Binders created by the District’s Reading Department. Writing instruction focuses on building all three areas of writing: informational/explanatory, opinion/persuasive and narrative. Literacy development is monitored and assessed through literacy binder benchmark testing, STAR Reading screening, classroom assessments and the Wisconsin Forward Exam.

Students may receive additional support (remedial or extension) through “What I Need” (W.I.N.) Time, Title I, LLI, EL or PRISM services.

Math Expressions and Big Ideas Math Curriculum

The School District of Milton has adopted Math Expressions curriculum for Grades K-5 and Big Ideas Math curriculum 6-9. Math Expressions combines elements of standards-based instruction with the best traditional approaches. Through drawings, conceptual language and real-world examples, it helps students make sense of mathematics, while meeting the rigorous expectations of the Common Core State Standards. Math Expressions provides students with a balance of foundational and procedural mathematics, while expanding students ability problem solve and apply mathematics to more conceptual understandings. The program follows the the CCSS Learning Progressions, helping teachers build upon the skills mastered in previous grade levels to support new knowledge and skill acquisition. Big Ideas Math provides students with a balanced approach to instruction. Big Ideas Math utilizes discovery learning followed by teacher-directed instruction giving students the opportunity to utilize clear, precise mathematics language and structure.

Intermediate teachers utilize resources within the Math Expressions and Big Ideas programs including integrated technology (eTeacher’s Edition, eStudent Activity Book, iTools, and Interactive Whiteboard Activities) and differentiated tools to better meet the needs of all learners. Mathematics skill development is monitored and assessed through STAR Math screening, classroom assessments and the Wisconsin Forward Exam.

Students may receive additional support (remedial or extension) through “What I Need” (W.I.N.) Time, focused math interventions, ELL or PRISM services.

Science Curriculum

The School District of Milton is currently working on updating science curriculum to reflect the Next Generation Science Standards. The district has adopted Science Dimensions curriculum for Gr. 6-8, highlighting a NGSS-aligned integrated approach to teaching all domains of science and engineering practices. Intermediate students receive science instruction in general science skills, earth/space science, life science, and physical science. Teachers work at incorporating reading and math skills into science lessons, providing exposure to more informational texts and real-world applications of mathematics and reasoning.

Social Studies Curriculum

The School District of Milton begins specific social studies curriculum and instructional time at the intermediate level, highlighting relevant topics of history with higher-order thinking skills in informational text literacy. Students receive additional opportunities to explore topics that will build into more specific instruction at the older grade levels.

Specials Curriculum

The School District of Milton provides students with additional instruction in key areas of development and interest including: art, music, physical education, social development, library media/digitial citizenship and technology. Intermediate Specials instruction provides students with opportunities to explore standards outside the core academic areas, while peaking their interest in areas that can be explored in greater variety at the secondary level.