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Oswego Community Unit School District 308

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https://www.sd308.org/Departments-and-Programs/Classroom-Resources/Elementary-Education/

Elementary Education

The Elementary Education Department supports the staff, students, and parents in Kindergarten through Grade 5. 
 
Our department is fully engaged with aligning and implementing curriculum in various content areas to the Illinois Learning Standards. The Illinois Learning Standards are based on the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.  
 
In addition, the department provides student support for our English Language Learners (EL), Gifted Education (GE), and Special Education. 
 
For more information about the Illinois Learning Standards, please visit the

Art

 
Elementary art education encourages students to explore their creativity while learning to use a variety of tools, techniques, and media. Through hands-on projects, students develop problem-solving skills, self-expression, and an appreciation for visual arts and culture. Art builds confidence and helps children see the world in new and imaginative ways. For more information about the Illinois Fine Arts Learning Standards for Visual Arts, please visit the Illinois State Board of Education site.
 
Disciplinary Core Ideas: 
  • Create
  • Respond
  • Connect 
  • Present

English Language Arts (ELA)

 
English Language Arts (ELA) is composed of several integrated areas. The SD 308 ELA curriculum is aligned to the Illinois English-Language Arts Learning Standards. To learn more about these standards visit the Illinois State Board of Education site.
 
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
  • Reading: Foundational Skills
  • Reading: Literature
  • Reading: Informational Text
  • Writing
  • Language 
  • Speaking and Listening

Library Media Center

 
Mission Statement
The SD 308 Library Media Center Program will support the district’s mission to educate all students to reach their highest potential, in partnership with our families and communities.
 
Vision Statement
The vision of the SD 308 Library Media Center program, in collaboration with classroom teachers, will ensure that  students can:  
  • Access information efficiently and effectively to inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge
  • Evaluate information critically and competently
  • Use information accurately, creatively, and ethically to share knowledge and to participate collaboratively and productively as a member of the democratic society
  • Cultivate a love and appreciation of a wide variety of literature and pursue knowledge related to personal interests and aesthetic growth
  • Practice, promote, and model positive Digital Citizenship

Mathematics

 
The Illinois Math Learning Standards are "designed to help students acquire a deep, conceptual understanding of core math content through focus, coherence, and rigor. Students are taught a deeper, richer understanding of fewer concepts. Coherence ensures math connections are made between grade levels and builds logical progression. Rigor promotes the equal balance of conceptual understanding, application, and procedural skill and fluency." For more information on the Illinois Math Learning Standards visit the Illinois State Board of Education site.
 
Disciplinary Core Ideas: 
  • Counting and Cardinality
  • Operations and Algebraic Thinking
  • Numbers and Operations
  • Measurement and Data
  • Geometry

Music

 
Elementary music education nurtures a love of music while helping students build skills in listening, rhythm, melody, and performance. Students learn to express themselves creatively, work collaboratively, and appreciate music from diverse cultures and traditions. Music supports academic growth and social-emotional development while fostering confidence and joy in learning. For more information on the National Arts Standards visit the National Core Arts Standards site.
 
Disciplinary Core Ideas: 
  • Creating
  • Responding
  • Connecting

Physical Education

 
Elementary physical education promotes healthy habits, movement skills, and teamwork through active play and exercise. Students build strength, coordination, and confidence while learning the value of cooperation and sportsmanship. PE supports lifelong wellness by encouraging students to stay active, make healthy choices, and enjoy physical activity. For more information on the Illinois Learning Standards  for Physical Development and Health, visit theIllinois State Board of Education site.


Disciplinary Core Ideas: 
  • Acquire movement and motor skills 
  • Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness
  • Develop skills necessary to become a successful member of a team 
  • Understand principles of health promotion and prevention
  • Understand human body systems and factors that influence growth and development
  • Promote and enhance health and well-being

Science

 
Illinois Vision of K-12 Science Education
 
Effective science teaching and learning will mean that Illinois K-12 students will be better prepared for entrance into college and careers. The Next Generation Science Standards call for a three-dimensional approach to science instruction: Core Ideas, Crosscutting, and Practices.  They are designed to help students acquire a deep understanding of core science and engineering content and ideas as well as experience applying that knowledge in any context.  Students will demonstrate their scientific proficiency by engaging in practices that demonstrate the ability to apply scientific concepts. For more information from the Illinois State Board of Education visit the Illinois State Board of Education site.

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 
  • Physical Science (PS)
  • Earth and Space Science (ESS)
  • Life Science (LS)

Social Studies

 
The Illinois Social Science Standards fall into two complementary categories: inquiry skills and disciplinary concepts. Inquiry skills involve questioning, investigating, reasoning, and responsible action while disciplinary concepts make use of social science ideas, principles, and content to pursue answers to the questions generated by student inquiries. The inquiry skills are used simultaneously with the disciplinary concepts.
 
Disciplinary Concepts:
  • Civics
  • Economics/ Financial Literacy
  • Geography 
  • History
 
For more information about the Illinois Social Science Standards visit the Illinois State Board of Education site.
Homework, Grading, Reporting, and mastery connect

Homework, Grading, Reporting, and mastery connect

Purpose
At the elementary level the purpose of homework, when assigned, is to reinforce or extend classroom learning for individual student success. 
 
Grading
On a student's report card, homework will not be calculated in the grade representing a student's academic achievement. Homework completion can be communicated to parents by documenting as a learning behavior characteristic. 
 
Length
On average, students in grades kindergarten through second will have 15 minutes per day and students in grades third through fifth will have 30 minutes per day. 
 
BOE Policy
 
In Oswego Community Unit School District 308, our primary purpose for grading and reporting is to communicate growth towards proficiency of targeted learning standards.
 

Trimesters:

Elementary grading periods run on a trimester framework. Parents/guardians can monitor student progress at any time using the MasteryConnect Parent Portal. Accessing student progress will create the opportunity for you and your student to discuss the learning that is occurring in our classrooms. MasteryConnect can be a valuable tool to engage students, parents, and teachers in conversations around learning and expectations necessary to develop college and career readiness skills.
 

MasteryConnect:

MasteryConnect is a system that keeps track of student understanding of the Illinois Learning Standards. Parents are able to access the Parent Portal of MasteryConnect to view their child's progress towards mastery of the learning standards. Please view the video below to learn more about the MasteryConnect Parent Portal. Contact your child's teacher if you have not received access to your MasteryConnect parent account.
 

Standards-Based Progress Reports:

Elementary students receive a Standards-Based Progress Report. Standards-based reporting is used to communicate how students perform on a set of clearly defined learning standards. The purpose for a standards-based progress report is to identify what a student knows or is able to do in relation to learning standards over the course of the grading period by identifying a student’s mastery level for each standard.
 
Mastery levels indicate the level of proficiency for each standard based on the most recent assessment of the standard. The expectation is for students to reach mastery on grade level standards by the end of the school year.

Levels of Mastery:
Mastery (M): Demonstrates proficiency at this time; may require minimal or no support.
Near Mastery (NM): Demonstrates progress towards proficiency at this time; may require some support.
Emerging (E): Demonstrates limited proficiency at this time; requires frequent support.
 
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