Curriculum - Friendship Academy of the Arts

Curriculum Excerpts

Friendship Academy uses the Great Minds curriculum for Reading and Mathematics, and the Houghton Mifflin Curriculum for Science and Social Studies. Below is a sampling of the curriculum we use.

Information is also available on Friendship Academy’s Literacy Plan (PDF).

Reading

Advantages of Great Minds’ Wit & Wisdom Curriculum

WHAT IS WIT & WISDOM?

Wit & Wisdom is a comprehensive Grades K–8 English curriculum developed by and for teachers. Each Wit & Wisdom module centers on the study of rich and engaging texts, curated to build student knowledge of important ideas in the liberal arts and the sciences. The approach is integrated and text-based: daily reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, and vocabulary study is based on—and draws on evidence from—exceptional texts. 

The Wit & Wisdom approach helps teachers celebrate the joy of reading and writing with students, while also supporting all learners to tackle the rigor that the standards demand. By reading books they love and engaging meaningfully in their learning, students develop the knowledge and skills they need to be successful readers, critical thinkers, and effective communicators who love to learn and can succeed in college and careers. 

Wit & Wisdom allows educators to teach more meaningful English because of three principles. 

Books, Not Basals 

Every Wit & Wisdom text students encounter is authentic and of the highest quality. Instead of basals, students read books they love to build knowledge of important topics and master literacy skills. The texts are wide-ranging and varied, including a careful balance of literary, informational, and fine-art texts. 

Knowledge Building 

Every module, or unit of study, in each grade focuses on a topic essential for building background knowledge, vocabulary, and writing skills. For example, students learn about the seasons, the American Revolution, civil rights, and space exploration. Essential topics strategically reoccur, empowering students to deepen understanding of core knowledge across Grades K–8. 

Integrated, Not Isolated 

Students practice reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language in an integrated way, with every strand of the standards woven throughout each module. This integrated approach enables students to be more successful as they activate and build on their developing background and vocabulary knowledge of the module topic while learning skills in other areas.

Mathematics

Advantages of Great Minds’ Eureka Math Curriculum:

Created by the nonprofit Great Minds, Eureka Math helps teachers deliver unparalleled math instruction that provides students with a deep understanding and fluency in math. 

Crafted by teachers and math scholars, the curriculum carefully sequences the mathematical progressions to maximize coherence from Prekindergarten through Precalculus—a principle tested and proven to be essential in students’ mastery of math. 

Teachers and students using Eureka Math find the trademark “Aha!” moments in Eureka Math to be a source of joy and inspiration, lesson after lesson, year after year. Eureka Math is the only curriculum found by EdReports.org to align fully with the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics for all grades, Kindergarten through Grade 8. 

Great Minds offers detailed analyses which demonstrate how each grade of Eureka Math aligns with specific state standards. Access these free alignment studies at greatminds.org/state-studies. 

Schools and districts nationwide are experiencing student growth and impressive test scores after using Eureka Math. See their stories and data at greatminds.org/data. 

As a nonprofit, Great Minds offers the Eureka Math curriculum as PDF downloads for free, noncommercial use. Access the free PDFs at greatminds.org/math/curriculum.

Based on Research, Built to Standards:

  • Draws upon current knowledge about how students learn.
  • Promote effective, research-based teaching practices.
  • Meets stringent state and district standards.

Supports All students:

  • Employs a highly systematic, step by step approach.
  • Delivers built-in intervention and extension.

Builds Success on Achievement Tests:

  • Links Assessment and instruction.
  • Emphasizes problem solving and reasoning.
  • Offers fully integrated test preparation.

Science

Advantages of Houghton Mifflin SCIENCE Curriculum

Houghton Mifflin Science curriculum encourages students to think like scientists with Science DiscoveryWorks program.

Students learn to investigate different scientific principles by making observations, asking questions, posing hypotheses, and sharing information- while at the same time having fun discovering the wonders of science.

Carefully organized lessons deliver the right combination of content and meaningful activities to help all students think like scientists.

Time to Learn:

  • Comprehensive investigations are linked together in a logical sequence to build depth of understanding.
  • Careful pacing of activities and reading gives students the time they need to master each concept.

Discovery Supported by Reading:

  • Activities come first to build conceptual understanding and give students a reason to read.
  • Reading resources connect with each activity to reinforce content and science vocabulary.

Opportunities for All students to Succeed:

  • Intriguing technology components supplement lessons and offer students interactive exploration of concepts.

Social Studies

Advantages of Houghton Mifflin SOCIAL STUDIES Curriculum

Students are prepared for the civic challenges of the future with Houghton Mifflin’s We The People comprehensive Social Studies programs.

As students actively participate in their social studies learning, they develop the skills to become involved, informed, and responsible citizens.

A Variety of Relevant, Engaging Content:

  • Motivates students to learn and do to achieve success.
  • Teaches solid social studies and builds informed citizens.

Reading Support for All Students:

  • Guides students to become strong, confident readers.
  • Helps children understand and apply social studies concepts and skills.

Solid Assessment and Test Prep:

  • Allows teachers to monitor student progress.
  • Prepares students to meet the challenges of standardized tests.

Classroom Management information: see the Responsive Classroom Discipline Model.