CORE KNOWLEDGE®
The New
Dimensions School adopted the Core Knowledge Curriculum in 2008.
For more information, visit
www.coreknowledge.org
Principles and Core Values
The New Dimensions School views
competence and intelligence as multifaceted.
The
New Dimensions School staff considers all curriculum areas and
learning opportunities as different ways for children to express
competence. Nontraditional academic areas such as art are
viewed as equally important as, for example, reading, as a
context for academic achievement.
Children's self-directed engagement is
viewed as the foundation for learning.
The activities that make up the fabric of children's life are
seen as the contexts for using interests in one area as the
foundation for learning in other areas.
The New Dimensions School offers
multiple entry points into the curriculum.
Activity rich learning opportunities are viewed as different
pathways for children to enter into learning that is
self-directed.
The New Dimensions School emphasizes
curricular context.
The New Dimensions Schools staff stimulates interests in making
discoveries, constructing, meaning, creating and testing new
ideas, and reflecting on one's own abilities and
accomplishments.
The New Dimensions School staff builds
on children's assets and strengths.
Identifying, acknowledging, building on, and
celebrating students' assets and strengths are the heart and
soul of The New Dimensions School curriculum. The belief
that all children have assets and strengths as well as the
capacity to become more competent is the cornerstone of this
approach to learning.
Note: These principles and
core values are adapted from and based on the successful work
done by Project Spectrum at Harvard University.
Chen, J.Q., Isberg, E., & Krechvsky, M. (Vol. Eds.). (1998)
Project Zero frameworks for early childhood education: Vol. 2
Project Spectrum: Early Learning activities. (H.
Gardner, D.H. Feldman, & M. Krechevsky, Series Eds.). New
York: Teachers College Press. Chen, J.Q., Krechevsky,
M., Viens, J., & Isberg, E (Vol. Eds.). (1998(. Project
Zero frame-works for early childhood education: Vol. 1.
building on children's strengths: The experience of
Project Spectrum. (8H. Gardner, D.H. Feldman, & M. Krechevsky,
Series Eds.). New York: Teachers College Press.
Instruction
At The New Dimensions
School, we use teaching methodology called Teacher Responsive
Instruction. First, our teaching is
asset-based. That is, we
see the interests and strengths of each student, our students'
families, and the communities in which we live and learn as
central to our educational approach. They form the
basis of our instruction in all academic subject matter -
reading, writing, mathematics, language, the sciences, and the
arts.
Second, the environments
in which learning takes place at The New Dimensions School are
planned with an understanding of educator Howard Gardner's
groundbreaking Multiple Intelligences learning research, which
focuses on many different ways that people learn; our classes
use the Project Approach for organizing occurring everyday
settings and activities in the classroom and community to
provide a rich array of learning opportunities for our students.
Finally, our instructional program analyzes each project and
activity for the role it plays in promoting the development of
student key abilities.
Our goal is for all students to be able to meet state and
national educational standards defined for each subject area
incorporated in the key abilities.
We offer physical
education classes twice a week. Our Core Knowledge
curriculum is supported by weekly Art and Music instruction.
Standards
The New Dimensions
School incorporates project-based learning into the daily
classroom schedule so that both academic and technical skills
are applied in real and hypothetical situations. We pride
ourselves on our small classrooms with low student to teacher
ratio.
The strong commitment of The New Dimensions School to produce
students who are aware of the global community in which they
will live and work, and who abide by the doctrine of thinking
globally and acting locally is a core ingredient in our
child-centered instruction.
All classroom teachers follow the North Carolina course of study
for all subject areas to insure the key concepts are taught at
each grade level. The instruction strategies focus on
helping students to work at their individual levels so that they
can master the skills they need to be successful in school and
in life.
Student Performance
The New Dimensions
School follows a multifaceted approach to documenting student
success. An extensive Asset-Based Performance Portfolio is compiled
throughout the year to assess a student's growth. The
portfolio includes several assessments, summaries, evaluations,
and work samples for each student project. Parent-teacher
conference are held 4 times a year to review students'
portfolios.
Students at The New Dimensions School follow the State of North
Carolina testing requirements, which include but are not limited
to, 3rd grade pretest, 4th grade writing test, and End of Grade
(EOG) tests in 3-5 grades.
In addition to the State testing, The New Dimensions School
conducts assessments on each child utilizing a nationally
standardized test called the Metropolitan Achievement Test.
K-3rd grade students are screened using PALS (Phonemic
Assessment of Literacy Skills). All K-3rd grade students
are also screened in mathematics.
Core Knowledge Classroom Updates
Kindergarten
2010-11 SUPPLY LIST
Individual
Items - Please Label
Full Size backpack (NO BAGS ON ROLLERS)
Extra clothes in ziploc bag to be kept in backpack
Pencil Box
6+ Glue Sticks
2+ boxes of 24 Count Crayons
2 Packages of sharpened #2 Pencils
1 Pack Pencil top erasers
1 Pack washable Crayola markers
2 Folders with pockets
Rest Mat
Share Items - No Need to Label
1 tub baby wipes
1 tub Clorox wipes
1 bottle of hand sanitizer
1 box of snack or lunch size Ziploc bags
1 box of gallon size Ziploc bags
2 boxes of tissues
First Grade 2010-11 SUPPLY LIST
24 pack of #2 pencils
4 glue sticks
5 two-pocket folders
1 pack of 8-count bold markers
1 Spacemaker pencil box
2 packs construction paper
1 pack of baby wipes
1 box of sandwich bags
24 count crayons
2 packs big pink erasers
2 Clorox/Lysol wipes
2 packs of EXPO markers
2 hand sanitizers
2 one subject (wide ruled) notebooks
2 boxes tissues
1 box of gallon and 1/2 size bags
Second Grade 2010-11 SUPPLY LIST
Book Bag - medium size (NO BAGS ON ROLLERS)
The following are the only supplies needed by your child.
Please send them to school on the first day. DO NOT
label the items, as they will be shared by the class.
2 - 12 packs of #2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)
2 packs of pencil top erasers
2 boxes of 24 count crayons
1 box colored pencils
1 box of thick markers
1 pack of Dry Erase Markers
6 glue sticks
1 watercolor paint set
1 package of wide-ruled notebook paper
1 package of construction paper
2 pocket folders w/brads
1 box of tissues
1 box of baby wipes
1 box of Clorox wipes
Third Grade 2010-11 SUPPLY LIST
Watercolor paint set
Colored pencils, 24-color pack
Crayons (nothing bigger than 48 color pack)
Scissors
Glue sticks - 4
Pencils -package of 12
Package wide ruled loose leaf paper
Two pocket folder (without metal tabs)
Two pocket plastic folder with metal tabs
1.5" three ring binder
Clear plastic ruler (must have both inches and centimeters)
Composition notebook (the type with the black and white
marbled cover)
Highlighter - 2
Pencil sharpener with shavings trap
Dry erase marker - 2
Dry erase board (approx. size 8 1/2 x 11")
Girls - package 3 x 5" index cards, lined on one side
Boys - one box gallon sized Ziploc baggies
Boys - one box of tissues
Girls - one box sandwich sized Ziploc baggies
Pencil box
Most importantly, you will need:
Two listening ears
Tow helping hands
One caring heart
Parents - pencils, glue sticks, loose leaf paper, tissues,
baggies, dry erase markers, index cards, & highlighters will
all be community property. Please DO NOT label them
with your child's name. I also ask that you stick to
the items on the list. I have found sending markers,
staplers, etc. turn into a distraction for your child.
See you in August!
Fourth Grade 2010-11 SUPPLY LIST
3 Ring binder
2 Packs loose leaf paper (wide ruled)
3 Ring binder dividers
Pack of #2 lead pencils (NO mechanical pencils)
8-12 Count colored pencils
Erasers
Protractor
Compass
1 Pack of highlighters
Glue sticks
Pencil box
Scissors
3 x 5 Note cards
Clip board
Boys: 1 box of snack sized Ziplocs
Girls: 1 box of sandwich sized Ziplocs
Each student will need $10 for special supplies to
be ordered by the Teacher.
Fifth Grade
2010-11 SUPPLY LIST
1 Three inch binder
6 Packages of loose leaf paper - college ruled
1 Spiral bound notebook - 2 subject or larger
Mechanical pencils and extra lead
Pencil topper erasers
Colored pencils
2 Pocket folders
Small hand-held pencil sharpener
Scissors
1 Black "Sharpie" marker
Clipboard
5 Dividers
Pencil box/pencil pouch
Kleenex
Cups (12 oz. or smaller)
Germ-Ex hand sanitizer
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