Academics

Academics

Natcher Elementary staff strives to meet the needs of all students. The teachers collaborate weekly in Professional Learning Communities to focus on four guiding questions in planning their instruction:

•What do we want our students to learn?  (What standards are necessary for mastery?)

•How will we know they have learned it? (How do we assess their mastery?)

•What do we do if they don’t learn it?  (How do we supplement instruction for struggling students?)

•What do we do if they already know it? (What extensions do we offer to stretch learning?)

Reading and Math Instruction:

•Primary students in Kindergarten through third grade receive 90 minutes of core reading instruction and 60 minutes of core math instruction.  

•Intermediate students in grades 4-6 receive 60 minutes of core instruction in both reading and math.

Response to Intervention in Reading and Math:

•All grade levels receive 30 additional minutes of both supplemental reading and math daily.  This includes intervention for struggling students, extra practice, and extension for those students who have already mastered the skills.

•Teachers flexibly group students based on unit assessments to determine which students need which groups. 

•During these 30-minute supplemental sessions, classroom teachers offer extra practice and extensions for those students who have already mastered the skills.

•Struggling students receive intervention services in smaller group sessions.

•Title 1 and Extended School Service funds are used to service students who need intervention in math. 

•Title 2, Extended School Service, and PTO funds are being used to service students who need intervention in reading.

Science, Social Studies, Writing Instruction:

•Primary students receive instruction in these areas integrated within the Scott Foresman Reading Series used daily in reading class, as well as during thematic units taught within the school day. 

•Intermediate students receive instruction daily in these areas as a core class and/or also integrated within other classes.

Special Area Classes:

•Students daily attend a 40-minute special area class. 

•These classes include instruction in art, music, physical education, library, guidance, and computer skills. 

•Students also may visit the library any day using passes from their teacher.

•The guidance counselor offers small group and individual counseling as needed besides classroom guidance classes.

•Classroom teachers may reserve the computer lab as well as use a portable laptop cart for their entire class.

District Curriculum Maps / timelines including “I Can…” statements (kid friendly targets for learning) are available at the following websites:

•Primary curriculum resources:

      www.co.warren.kyschools.us/currmaps/

•Intermediate curriculum resources:  www.warren.kyschools.us/WCPS/Welcome.html   and then click on Curriculum Maps under Academics.

The School Report Card for Natcher Elementary may be found at the Kentucky Department of Education website:

http://apps.kde.state.ky.us/report_card/index.cfm?action=display_cards

Natcher Elementary provides a clean, orderly learning environment characterized by mutual respect and high standards.  Social skills are addressed the following ways:

•Students are taught four expectations for success.  Our Guidelines for Success are: be responsible, be respectful, be a team player, and be willing to learn.

•We start our day as a school community with a short morning meeting in the gym to celebrate birthdays and other student achievements. We teach citizenship by reciting together the Pledge of Allegiance, singing a patriotic song, and reciting our Guidelines for Success.

•Ron Clark’s, 55 Essential Rules for Success, is being used to teach and reinforce manners and important social skills.

•Guidance classes focus on issues such as character building, self-esteem, bullying, and other important topics essential for students to grow and develop.

•A safe environment for our students to learn is our priority.  Our Student Teacher Assistance Team (STAT) is a positive instructional discipline team created to address the needs of all students by using a positive approach with children.

•Consistent school-wide expectations in all common areas are taught and monitored by all adults in the school community.