Academics are at the core of what we do at the Institute of Technology and Academics. ITA prides itself on providing a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on the whole child. We believe that learning should be hands-on and engaging. We use nationally recognized, research-based programs as a foundation for instruction. Our goal is to ensure that our scholars leave our school at or above grade level and ready to compete with their peers nationally.
The Institute of Technology and Academics strives to ensure that all students become high-level readers and writers. Students are expected to meet the State Standards in ELA adopted by the State of Wisconsin at each grade level. ITA uses Engage New York’s Common Knowledge Curriculum to approach and stress the essential components of Reading through explicit teaching of phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, expressiveness, vocabulary, comprehension, spelling, writing, and handwriting.
The Core Knowledge Language Arts Listening and Learning Strand is designed to help students build the background knowledge and vocabulary critical to listening and reading comprehension. The decoding skills needed for future independent reading are taught separately in the Core Knowledge Language Arts Skills Strand. The two strands complement each other, building the requisite decoding and comprehension skills that comprise fluent, mature reading. The teaching of the two strands, however, need not be correlated, i.e., teachers may provide instruction and practice in a given unit of the Skills Strand as needed, while moving on to new topics and anthologies in the Listening and Learning Strand.
The Skills Strand teaches the mechanics of readingâstudents are taught systematic and explicit phonics instruction as their primary tool for decoding written English. By the end of grade 2, students have learned all of the soundâspelling correspondences in the English language and are able to decode written material they encounter. In addition to phonics, students also are taught spelling, grammar, and writing during the Skills Strand.
The Math Curriculum at ITA
Here at ITA, math is one of our most important core curriculum subjects. We pride ourselves in having math programs that are aligned to the state standards and are tailored to meet the needs of all of our students, whether they are academically behind in math, or excelling above their math grade level. Eurka /Zearn math is the core math curriculum that is implemented for grades k4-8th here at ITA.
Dreambox is another digital math program that is implemented in order to meet students on their true academic level. Think of Dreambox as an intervention for math. Teachers implement Dreambox to personalize math lessons for students that may be extremely behind in their grade level math, or for students that are exceeding in their current grade level math, and need more of a challenge. Like Zearn, Dreambox offers fun digital math lessons that students enjoy playing while learning at the same time.
More about Engage New York math Curriculum
Engage New York Is a common core math curriculum that was developed in New York by the New York Education department. EngageNY.org is dedicated to providing educators across different States with real-time, professional learning tools and resources to support educators in reaching the Stateâs vision for a college and career ready education for all students.
Tell me more about Zearn?
Zearn Math is a complete math program that provides Common core aligned math personalized to individual learners, and based on Eureka math/ Engage New York. Lessons focus on three critical components: Deep understanding, fluency, and problem âsolving. Zearn Math has been field-tested for the past 8 years to keep kids engaged and is the only elementary math program that includes top-rated materials for both hands-on instruction and digital learning.
So Why is Zearn Math a great fit for ITA?
Zean is a great fit for ITA because zearn offers high quality independent digital lessons connected to aligned lesson plans in Engage New York. Students can also learn independently at their own pace. Zearn is also fun and interactive. Students use their chrome books during math class to successfully complete 4 digital lessons a week. Students can also log onto zearn from home computers, tablets and even a cellular device. Students follow along with an interactive teacher online in order to get a full understanding of each lesson. Your child will enjoy playing the interactive lessons that zearn offers while learning new math.
The Institute of Technology and Academics uses the Full Option Science System (FOSS) at the 7-8 level. FOSS strives to develop studentsâ abilities to do and understand scientific inquiry through:
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Planning and conducting investigations
- Analyzing and interpreting data
- Developing and using models
- Using mathematics, information and computer technology, and computational thinking
- Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Engaging in argument from evidence
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Progress Monitoring & Tracking
Wisconsin Forward Exam
The Wisconsin Forward Exam is an online assessment that is administered in schools across the state of Wisconsin. This standardized assessment is given to students once a year and measures student progress in Reading and Mathematics from year to year.
Star 360
The Star 360 assessment is an online progress monitoring tool that tracks academic growth in Reading and Mathematics. ITA scholars take this computer adaptive test four times a year. The teacher uses the data to provide targeted remediation and extension activities within the classroom.
Benchmark Assessments
The Institute of Technology and Academics administers benchmark assessments in Reading each trimester. The benchmarks are centered around ITAâs âPower Standards.â The Common Cores Standards for Reading: Informational Standards Standards 1, 8, and 9 drive instruction and urge students to âProve It,â âExplain It,â and âCompare Itâ every day.