The educational philosophy of Sigsbee Charter School is that all students can and will demonstrate high levels of achievement given a challenging, enriching, differentiated learning atmosphere that is tailored to their individual learning needs and strengths. The instructional methods that will be used reflect current research trends focused on high achievement and differentiated instruction in all areas of curriculum. Given the transient nature of many of the students at Sigsbee Charter School, these instructional methods will enable teachers and staff to get to know each child quickly so that they may accurately assess each child's learning progress. A differentiated instructional program directly relates to the school's mission in providing each child enriching opportunities that facilitate performance commensurate with the child's potential. In addition, differentiated instruction addresses the issue of the widely diverse experience base.
The Florida Keys are full of natural wonders and are recognized for environmental and marine treasures. Sigsbee Charter School is located on a Navy base with ready access to many of these resources. The curriculum at Sigsbee Charter School capitalizes on the the Keys' riches to help our students develop an appreciation of their environment and to assume their responsibility for conservation and preservation. The vision for Sigsbee Charter School includes environmental and marine science as the primary focus for integration of the curriculum. Hands-on experiments will help students understand cause-and-effect relationships and provide real-world applications of science. Ready access to aquatic waters enriches and extends learning in all subject areas.
This marine environmental focus will be embraced over time. In our first year of operation, Sigsbee Charter School will collaborate with local marine science and environmental resources to initiate partnerships and programs that will define extraordinary opportunities for students. By the second year of operation, instruction will focus on the integration of subject areas with environmental and marine studies at the center.
Students will also demonstrate mastery of the technology skills that support learning, personal productivity, decision-making. and daily life. Students at Sigsbee Charter School will be equipped with the skills and dispositions to compete globally in a rapidly advancing technological age. Consistent with the National Science Teachers Association and National Educational Technology Standards, the school will support science & technology instruction as an essential part of daily curriculum so that students are able to develop problem-solving skills that are necessary for participation in the rapidly advancing scientific and digital world.
A dedicated science/technology teacher implements hands-on activities that follow state standards for content. Methodologies accommodate a wide variety of learning styles in a state-of-the-art learning facility equipped with appropriate materials, resources, and technology.
Guided Reading
Guided reading is a strategy focused on strengthening the reading ability of students based on their current levels of achievement. In guided reading, the teacher provides specific support for small groups of readers as they learn to use various reading strategies (context clues, letter and sound relationships/phonemic awareness, word structure, fluency, and so forth). Guided reading has been shown to be an effective way to specifically and directly support the literacy learning of beginning readers, struggling readers, readers who are more advanced, and special needs and English language learners. Regardless of student age, grade level, disability, or reading level, guided reading can be used to support reading achievement by providing teacher support to help students learn how to use their own knowledge and strategies to solve problems they are having with text. Independent reading is the GOAL - guided reading provides the framework to ensure that students are able to apply strategies to make meaning from print. (http://www.stanswartz.com/philippines.html)
6+1 Trait Writing Program
The 6+1 Trait Writing Program is a research-based vision that emerged from many years of observation and study of what good writing looks like. This method of instruction supports students in the writing process by teaching them how to understand the difference between strong and weak writing and providing a common language for all pieces of writing. Teachers and students use the 6+1 Trait model to identify areas of strength and weakness in the student's work based on 6 important traits, including the following:
- Ideas that are interesting and important.
- Organization that is logical and effective.
- Voice that is individual and appropriate.
- Word Choice that is specific and memorable.
- Sentence Fluency that is smooth and expressive
- Conventions (punctuation, spelling, and grammar) that are correct and communicative.
Instruction is based on the steps of the writing process (prewriting, editing, revision, polishing). Assessment is authentic and driven by rubrics that clearly denote various levels of achievement and encourage students to work toward high standards.
The math program adopted by the charter school focuses on the acquisition of computational skills, mathematical concepts, and problem solving skills. The adopted text includes real-life applications and differentiated resources such that students may review lessons introduced, practice concepts, or participate in enrichment activities that extend instruction depending on demonstrated level of mastery. The particular resource selected is endorsed by the National Council of Mathematics. Flexible grouping based on demonstrated mastery begins in the primary grades so that children may progress at a rate consistent with their ability.
In addition, teachers will continue to use Everyday Counts Calendar Math as this has proven successful with the current school population. Classrooms are equipped with a set of manipulatives in order to provide hands-on learning. Eventually, mathematics instruction will be integrated with science and technology.