Curriculum

Reading and Writing

PS 166 follows the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Curriculum. 

 March 18, 2021 Teachers College Curriculum presentation 

Reading

Students are assessed several times each year to gauge reading level that includes both comprehension and accuracy.  Students are given ample time to read leveled books of their own choice and are encouraged to read both in the classroom and at home.  Readers discuss and write about their texts to demonstrate their thinking and understanding.

Teachers work with individuals and in groups according to students’ needs.  Each student has reading goals tailored to his or her strengths and weaknesses.  Teachers attend professional development workshops from Teachers College in adaptive and differentiated instruction.

Learn more about the Teachers College Reading program

Writing

Children learn to write opinion, information, and narrative writing pieces, progressing in these areas throughout their time at PS 166. Teachers guide students in individual skills and children are given the chance to practice these skills in class. The children draft, revise, edit and publish their texts, and receive feedback in individual and small groups to develop their skills.  Students’ work is assessed, and students are given individualized goals to progress their writing.

Learn more about the Teachers College Writing program 

Click here to access the Teacher College Reading and Writing Project support for families. 

Math and Science

Engage NY

2020-2021 K-5 Math Units at a Glance

 February 25, 2021 Math Presentation  

PS166 Amplify Science Units of Study

Grade K 

• Need of Plants and Animals
• Sunlight and Weather

Grade 1 

• Animal and Plant Defenses
• Light and Sound Unit

Grade 2 

• Plant and Animal Relationships
• Property and Materials

Grade 3 

• Inheritance and Traits
• Weather and Climate

Grade 4

• Energy Conversion
• Vision and Light

Grade 5

• Modeling Matter
• The Earth System

Homework Policy

In Grades 1-5 Homework will begin after the Meet the Teacher Conference in September.

• Kindergarten will begin sending reading book baggies home in October. However, Kindergarten written homework will begin in January.
• Reading on weekends is encouraged. Reading 20 minutes a day increases a child’s vocabulary by 1.8million words a year.
• Students should not be assigned homework over the weekends or during school vacations. The only exceptions include: independent reading, writing in a journal, long-term projects, and test prep.
• Long term projects should not be due on a Monday or on a day when the teacher is scheduled to be absent.
• There will be one (1) math project assigned to every student during the first half of the year (Sept – Jan) and two (2) math projects assigned to every student during the second half of the year (Feb – May).
• Children should work on homework independently. If a parent/adult assists with the homework, the adult need to indicate that assistance was provided on the homework so the teacher is aware.
• All teachers within a grade will assign the same amount of homework.
• Homework is to be checked by the classroom teacher and the homework will be returned in a timely manner no later than 1 week passed the due date.
• Classroom teacher should review/check homework with the class.
• All grades will have access to the same high frequency spelling word lists.
• Parents should be informed that they will not receive homework in advance if the family is attending vacation that takes the child out of school. Any missed homework will have to be made up after the child returns to school.
• All students will have access to homework, if students are absent or the homework it misplaced the homework is also available on the class website