At Legacy Traditional Schools, we implement two major programs: Spalding and Saxon Math. It is important that both parents and students understand how these programs work. Please review the information below where you will find basic information about the programs, resources, and downloadable, printable items. |
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Spalding Spalding's Writing Road to Reading, a total language arts program, integrates essential research-based components, an educational philosophy, and a methodology consisting of time-tested principles of learning and instruction.
The Spalding Method is:
Students learn the purpose for every task and are active participants throughout Spalding lessons. Daily observations and assessments enable teachers to tailor instruction to meet each child's individual needs: English Language Learners of all ages, Special Needs Students and Gifted. Thus, differentiated instruction is embedded in The Spalding Method.
Spalding teachers believe that students' physical and mental well-being is a primary concern and that all children can learn. (This was taken from the official Spalding website. For more information like the above, please visit www.spalding.org. )
Syllabicating and Marking Your child will begin to syllabicate and mark their spelling words in order to better understand how to pronounce and spell each word. First we syllabicate, or break the word up into syllables. For example, the word “spelling” looks like: Spel ling Next, we mark the words. When we mark words,
we are identifying phonograms and labeling which sound the phonograms are
making. Looking at our example, we have one specific phonogram to identify. The
phonogram “ng” makes a distinct sound. We now need to underline the phonogram, acknowledging
it as a phonogram sound. What we just did is called "marking." Last, we need to apply rules to the word.
Spalding follows twenty-nine distinct rules. Rule twenty-nine states that we usually make a syllable division between double consonants in the middle of a word. In our example you can see we have divided between the double l's, so our rule fits. We write the rule to the far right of the word like this: r.29. Phonograms Phonograms are speech sounds found in our English language. We all know the letter “b” make the “buh” sound, but other letters have the same composite, but different sounds. For example, the phonogram “ow” makes two distinct sounds. The sound in “bow,” like a bow in a girl’s hair, or the word “bow,” like bow your head. Students memorize all 70 phonograms and their corresponding sounds to better understand how to spell and read words. This method teaches students when they come across a word they don’t know, identify phonograms and try their sounds until they speak a word they recognize. Several online resources can be helpful to both parents and new students to the Spalding method. http://www.phonogrampage.com/ For a complete list of all 70 phonograms. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMAQLW4hIEk
This video demonstrates how to pronounce each phonograms. Your teacher can also provide you with a packet that can easily turn into flashcards that can be flipped to review phonograms at home. Happy Sounding, Syllabicating, and Marking! |
Saxon Math Some handy features about this program: in the homework section of each lesson is a set of 30 problems. Beside each problem is an italic number in parenthesis. This number relates to the lesson in which the problem refers to. If your student needs to review the skill, flip back to the lesson in the book as well as in their notes. Saxon homework will look the same every night. Your student will receive a worksheet with 30 numbered boxes, one for each corresponding problem. Each student is expected to include: The problem, as written in the textbook; Work showing how they completed the problem; The answer, circled. If your child has lost or forgotten their homework, visit the Homework page of our website for a downloadable copy of the Saxon worksheet. Tests come from Saxon and are twenty problems each. Students are also expected to show their work and circle their answer. Quizzes are at teacher's discretion.
Math Facts Fifth grade focuses on learning math facts until memorized and automatic. Math facts are single digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division from zero to 12. For example, 5x6, 2+3, and 6-1. Why are math facts so important? Students are tested every grading period on a 100 problem, two and a half minute test. This not only strengthens their skills, but shows their progress over the year. Most importantly, math facts are essential to solving all math problems introduced in fifth grade. A student may not apply their math skills to problem solving, order of operations, or conversions of they are still struggling with single digit multiplication. For extra math fact practice at home, visit the following websites: http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/mathfact/default.htm http://www.funbrain.com/math/ http://www.mathfactcafe.com/ |
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