Elementary (1-5)

At ASB, we foster a culture of growth mindset, curiosity, and perseverance. In all of our teaching, we guide students toward self-advocacy, personal responsibility & meaningful engagement with local and global communities. Our core curriculum includes; Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Religion, Physical Education, Technology, and Comprehensive Arts Education. Grades 1st through 5th, set the foundation for our middle school program and a 100% graduation rate for students.

Our teachers utilize curriculum and instructional approaches that maximize student potential for all learners and are considered best practice in education. This is especially true in the areas of reading and writing, which are considered to be core life skills, facilitating deep and genuine learning, engagement and connection with others, creativity and curiosity, civic participation, and achievement of all future goals.

To cultivate a love of reading and writing from a young age, we want all of our students to experience the best in curriculum and instructional approaches in the area of literacy, and to feel and experience success in their early attempts at reading and writing. To accomplish these goals and best serve all our students, our staff have collaborated to provide a progression of instruction using the Slingerland® Approach in grades Kindergarten through 4th grade.

The Slingerland® Approach to Language Arts

The Slingerland® Approach is a structured, sequential, and multisensory teaching approach that addresses foundational skills and knowledge in speaking, reading, writing, and spelling. The approach is described as

“… a supportive instructional program that encourages academic competence, effective work habits, and self-discipline. Students gain self-confidence and enthusiasm for learning as they experience success in school.”

Although the Slingerland® Approach is often used in providing intervention and support for students who struggle with reading and writing, using Slingerland® in the general education classroom provides an elevated educational experience for all of our students, in addition to providing the very best in instruction for students with language-based disabilities.

Students in first through third grades engage heavily in Slingerland®-based activities in the areas of handwriting, encoding/spelling, decoding, preparation for reading, and structured reading across content areas. In third grade, students are also instructed in both print and cursive handwriting, which continues to be an enriching and exciting experience for all our students.

The use of the Slingerland® Approach continues in fourth grade as reading comprehension strategies are incorporated into diverse subject areas, including Science and Social Studies. Using students’ foundation in Slingerland® skills and knowledge in writing, fourth grade students continue to develop their capacity as independent writers, honing their writing skills through the review of past concepts and the learning of new, advanced language skills.

Our students utilize this quality foundation of knowledge and skills in language to continue to grow their oral and written communication skills and reading comprehension in fifth through eighth grades, and graduate exceptionally prepared for the reading and writing demands of high school and beyond.

In addition, Slingerland® is used as a Tier 2, small-group intervention with students who demonstrate a need for additional support in the areas of literacy in grades K-5th. This intervention is provided by our Learning Specialist, who is available to pull students out of their general education classes to receive additional instruction, feedback, and skill practice in a small-group setting.

For more information on the Slingerland® Approach, please check out the The Slingerland® Institute for Literacy, which provides more detailed descriptions of Slingerland®, its use in the classroom, and its effectiveness as supported by research.