Arkansas Reading First (Grades K - 3)

Arkansas Reading First is a state initiative funded by the Federal Government as part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  Through this initiative, Arkansas school districts receive support and professional development to help schools achieve the goal of all children being readers by the end of Grade 3.

As a classroom-focused initiative, Reading First establishes specific expectations for literacy instruction for all students.  Teachers' classroom instructional decisions must be supported by scientifically based reading research (SBRR), and instruction must systematically and explicitly teach the five key early reading skills:

• Phonemic awareness - the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds of phonemes in spoken words;

• Phonics - the relationship between the letters of written language and the sounds of spoken language;

• Fluency - the capacity to read text accurately and quickly;

• Vocabulary - the words students must know to communicate effectively; and

• Comprehension - the ability to understand and gain meaning from what has been read.

Literacy Lab (Grades 4 - 12)

Literacy labs are designed to create reading/writing workshop environments in the classrooms.  Classroom teachers using the literacy lab model should:

• create engaging literate classroom environments

• instruct in fluency and comprehension strategies

• use assessments to inform instruction

• facilitate writing, vocabulary, and word study instruction

Standards Based Math Programs

Growing with Math ( K )

The Growing with Mathematics kindergarten program integrates the best practices of both early childhood education and mathematics education.  Its development was informed by the key research that has provided insights into how young children learn and the factors that make early mathematics education effective and successful.

A special feature of the Growing with Mathematics program is the emphasis on asking questions that encourage students to think critically.  Even at kindergarten, children are challenged to justify their answers, describing how they arrived at an answer, or why they gave a particular answer.

To learn more about Growing with Math, visit the Growing with Math website.

Everyday Math ( Grades 1 - 6 )

Everyday Mathematics is a comprehensive mathematics curriculum developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project, and published by Wright Group McGraw-Hill.  It is scientifically research-based and proven to build students' mathematical knowledge from the basics to higher-order thinking and critical problem solving.

Students learn computational skills as well as a broad range of mathematics concepts including data and probability, geometry and spatial sense, measures and measurement, algebra and uses of variables.  Used in over 175,000 classrooms and with over 2.8 million students, Everyday Mathematics has a proven legacy of success.  Districts from all over the country have reported strong evidence of dramatic improvement in student achievement and test scores.

To learn more about Everyday Math, visit the Everyday Math website.

Connected Math ( Grades 7 - 8 )

Connected Math is a complete mathematics curriculum for middle school students and teachers.  CMP helps students and teachers develop understanding of important mathematical concepts, skills, procedures, and ways of thinking and reasoning, in number, geometry, measurement, algebra, probability and statistics.  CMP is based on research, and was field-tested in diverse sites across the country.

The Overarching Goal of the Connected Mathematics Project:

All students should be able to reason and communicate proficiently in mathematics.  They should have knowledge of and skill in the use of the vocabulary, forms of representation, materials, tools, techniques, and intellectual methods of the discipline of mathematics, including the ability to define and solve problems with reason, insight, inventiveness and proficiency.

To learn more about CMP, visit the Connected Math website.

Discovering Algebra

To meet the challenges of success in school and today's technology-rich work world, students must develop mathematical skills in a meaningful and retrievable way.  With Discovering Algebra, the sequence of topics, content emphasis, hands-on activities, and use of technology combine to form a program that gives students a solid, lasting foundation in algebra and truly reflects the NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics.

To find information and resources relating to this program, visit the Discovering Algebra website.

Discovering Geometry

Discovering Geometry energizes the geometry classroom , involving students and making them active participants in their own learning.  Students explore geometric relationships with a wide variety of tools, including compasses, computers, and graphing calculators.  Instead of just memorizing rules and definitions, students perform constructions, measure figures, observe patterns, discuss their findings, write their own definitions, and formulate their own geometric conjectures.

To find information and resources relating to this program, visit the Discovering Geometry website.

All elementary schools and middle schools are served by math and literacy coaches that provide training and support for teachers in the implementation of the curriculum initiatives adopted by South Mississippi County Schools.

In addition, an academic coach provides support to teachers in Grades 7 - 12 with focus on increased student achievement in literacy and math.