Instructional Goals

Our Instructional Focus

 

If we know our students well, then we will be able to formulate and integrate appropriately challenging questions and assessments utilizing digital and culturally responsive resources to move every student forward.

Mathematics

 

Math Vision Statement

Staff will strive to educate the whole child so that he/she develops mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially.

Education is the science of teaching and learning. Every student differs and must be challenged to work to his/her greatest capacity. Each student will be regarded as a separate and important individual and will be made to feel that he/she is progressing. Students will be given varieties of valuable learning experience. They will be given the opportunity to grow at their own rate and in their own individual way. They will be guided firmly, but with kindness and impartiality. Activities will be provided that develop skills which enable each student to achieve scholastically to his/her greatest potential and to provide an opportunity for each student to use his/her special talents.

There is no single, correct answer for teaching, because everyone has a variety of talents, capabilities, and potentialities. Far too much emphasis is being placed on preparing students for subsequent schooling and far too little recognition is being given to the role of the school in preparing students for citizenship and employment. We will encourage each child to live and succeed in today's society.

Successful education occurs when both parents and the school accept the responsibility of helping each child to reach constructive maturity to best prepare the child for the continuing educational experiences which lie ahead.

The P188X School recognizes each child's natural and unique abilities. The potential of each child is celebrated by providing a comprehensive, rigorous, and individualized curriculum designed to meet the needs of each student. Children are taught to strive to meet their individual goals. Our teachers assist each child to understand how they learn. We strive to develop a sense of the value and power of education. They provide rich and varied opportunities to engage students in the learning process. The curriculum is child centered. It emphasizes the learning process, the physical wellbeing, effective communication, creativity, and the scientific method. We are dedicated to preparing students for success in an ever-changing world by creating and nurturing a community of life-long learners and responsible citizens.

The goal of the elementary program is to equip each child to be an informed, caring and effective citizen. We hope to create and inspire life-long learners. This is accomplished at the primary level by teaching children to read well, to express their thoughts through nonverbal cues or prompts, speaking and writing, to work with numbers and mathematical operations, to investigate, to inquire, and to solve problems. In the intermediate grades, the curriculum is further extended and enriched by students applying what they are learning.

At all levels, children are offered experiences in technology, performing arts and physical education. In addition, art, research, instruments, and advanced technology skills are integrated into the elementary curriculum at the intermediate grade levels.

Science

Urban Advantage logo

Urban Advantage is a city council-funded organization designed to improve middle school students understanding of scientific inquiry. They achieve this by providing top quality professional development as well as class trip vouchers to NYC middle school teachers at NYC's prime science institutions: zoos, botanical gardens, museums and science centers. Students are shown how to collect data and gather research at these institutions in order to complete a long term science investigation. UA schools receive an annual stipend to use toward science materials/supplies.

P188X has been a UA school for the past 10 years. This has contributed greatly to our science program as well as the learning demonstrated at our annual STEM fair.

 

Social Studies

Presently, we are using Social Studies Scope and Sequence grade K-8.

Through the learning of social studies, students will be able to understand, participate and make decisions about the world they live in. Students will use technology, video, news and multimedia resources to expand their knowledge of historical events.

Classes are comparing and contrasting different countries to the United States. We are learning about political systems, culture, and way of life of these regions. Recently, we did a unit on Christopher Columbus and students had an opportunity to take into account both points of view. Students studied Columbus the explorer and Columbus the "conquistador". Students are also learning about the history of Native Americans. They are learning to analyze, apply, understand, and connect historical events to present day life.

ELA