Grades One-Five
The Core Knowledge
series is the framework for Oakbrook's Lower School curriculum.
It is a "solid, sequenced, specific, shared core
curriculum" that helps children "establish strong
foundations of knowledge, grade by grade." Science
& Social Studies topics studied are selected from
the Core Knowledge guide to provide students with both
breadth and depth of knowledge and experience.
Click
here for more information on Core Knowledge.
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Oakbrook uses the Open Court reading series. "Open
Court Reading is a research-based curriculum grounded
in systematic, explicit instruction of phonemic awareness,
phonics and word knowledge, comprehension skills and strategies,
inquiry skills and strategies, and writing and language
arts skills and strategies. Reading fine literature is
one of the founding principles of Open Court Reading.
As children read classic and contemporary literature,
they discover the importance of clarity of thought and
word. They enjoy an abundant reading experience that moves
them toward independent, self-directed learning.”
Click
here for additional information on Open Court Reading.
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The Saxon Math curriculum is the primary math instruction
guide. The Saxon approach stresses "incremental development
and continual practice and review." Topics are introduced
in "easily understandable pieces (increments), permitting
the assimilation of one facet of a concept before the
next facet is introduced. Topics are never dropped, but
are instead increased in complexity and practiced every
day, providing the time required for concepts to become
totally familiar." Teachers hold “math meetings”
to stress application of skills and concepts. Students
become involved through activities and visual displays.
Click
here for additional information on the Saxon Approach.
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The Sitton Spelling approach is used in grades 3 through
6. The program focuses on teaching students spelling skills
and patterns rather than memorization of an arbitrary
list of words. Class work emphasizes the inquiry approach
to discerning spelling patterns. Students learn to spell
where it counts—in their writing.
Click
here for additional information on Sitton Spelling.
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Students in grades 3 through 5 are taught English grammar
using the Shurley Method. "The Shurley Method is
the end result of twenty-five years of research. The Shurley
Method never teaches concepts in isolation. A concrete
set of questions about each word in a sentence is used
to teach students how all the parts of a sentence fit
together. Students always have a clear picture of how
to write a complete sentences, they are exposed to "see
it, hear it, say it, do it" activities that meet
the visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles
of students."
Click here
for additional information on The Shurley Method.
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Students have numerous opportunities to improve their
writing and speaking skills throughout the year through
poetry contests, annual Literary Meet, etc.
OPS bases its writing program on the premise that all
children can and should write. Teachers provide an accepting
climate for students to write in, using a variety of genres
on a variety of topics. Students “learn to write”
using the writing process beginning with pre-writing and
ending with the final copy. . Students look at the craft
of authors they are studying and incorporate their techniques
into their own writing. Whether students are writing a
math problem, journaling a science experiment or creating
a travel brochure in Social Studies, students demonstrate
their ability to “write to learn” across the
curriculum. An anthology containing a piece of each student’s
best work is published each year.
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Oakbrook enjoys
many special academic events and festivals during the
year such as the Greek Festival and Agora, Roman Festival,
Famous American Day, Literary Meet, International Festival,
and Medieval Feast.
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All students in grades five participate in the Science
Fair. Projects winning in each category are displayed
at the Regional Science Fair at USC Upstate. Oakbrook
students have been top prize-winners over the history
of the school.
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