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Math
Math Expressions by Houghton Mifflin
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Ventura Unified adopted the Math Expressions Curriculum published by Houghton Mifflin. This curriculum was first used in VUSD during the 2017-2018 school year and was selected through a rigorous adoption process where teachers piloted various curriculums. Our math instruction follows the California Common Core Math Standards. |
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Marine
Science
NGSS
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Pierpont is actively implementing the nationally adopted Next Generation Science Standards. These new standards bring new curriculum and focus on hands on activities involving technology, engineering, life, physical, earth, and space sciences. Starting in the fall of 2016 we have been focusing our science instruction on marine science to utilize our unique location and resources in our community. In studying marine science, each grade level has objectives, a hands on project, and out of class learning opportunities. With this unique focus, Pierpont students will interact with expert marine scientists, participate in mutiple marine related field trips, and benefit from project based learning. Click here to read more about our marine science program. |
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Language Arts
Benchmark Education
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VUSD utilizes Benchmark Education curriculum for English Language Arts. This curriculum was first used in VUSD during the 2016-2017 school year and was selected through a rigorous adoption process where teachers piloted various curriculums. Our English Language Arts instruction follows the California Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS). |
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Technology
Grade Level Expectations
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Pierpont has developed a set of standards and expectations for our students outlined by grade level. These standards outline the skills we expect our students to have by the end of each grade level. To support these standards students have access to laptop carts in every grade level, teachers have an IPad and a projector for instruction and each classroom has a small group of IPads for class activities. We utilize typingtraining.com for typing practice and MobyMax for instruction in Math and English in our classrooms. We cover digital citizenship for our students (K-2, 3-5) to ensure that our students are safely navigating technology. In the summer of 2016 we are looking forward to a construction project that will allow us to have a dedicated room to serve as a library and computer lab. Thank you to our PTA for their generous support of technology in our classrooms. |
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Arts
Ventura County Arts Council : Artist in the Classroom
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Ventura Unified art teacher Nancy Kellogg provides instruction for our students throughout the year as part of Ventura Unified's commitment to the arts. Pierpont students regularly take field trips that expose them to the arts including musical performances, museum trips, plays and attending the ballet. In addition to school district sponsored art instruction, the Pierpont PTA has generously supported the arts in our classrooms through providing our teachers with several opportunities per year to host "Artists in the Classroom." The Artist in the Classroom program, provided by the Ventura County Arts Council, provides an 8 week course of study with an artist in the areas of visual and performing arts. |
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Ventura Unified music instructor Betsy Manninen provides music instruction throughout the year as part of our district's commitment to music instruction. In addition to providing music instruction during the school day, our PTA sponsors a chorus program with Ms. Manninen every Wednesday through winter break, where students can further their music education. The chorus program culminates with a performance in our Winter Sing-a-long. In the spring the PTA works with the New West Symphony to provide a music van visit, where students can learn about and experiment with the instruments from a full orchestra. |
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Physical Education
SPARK
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Pierpont teachers utilize the SPARK curriculum for physical education. SPARK is a research-based, public health organization dedicated to creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that promote lifelong wellness. The SPARK curriculum strives to improve the health of children through engaging games and activities paired with specific equipment to promote an active and healthy lifestyle. |
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Behavior Management
CHAMPS - Positive Behavior Support
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The overall goal of the CHAMPs classroom management system is to develop an instructional structure in which students are responsible, motivated, and highly engaged in the specific task at hand. The teacher's goal is to directly teach students how to be successful in specific class situations. This philosophy for behavior management, partnered with our school rules and procedures, help in establishing clear expectations for our students. |
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RTI
Response to Intervention |
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Response to Intervention is a strategic approach to providing support and intervention for students. At Pierpont the program is being used to address Language Arts, specifically reading and literacy. The RTI program provides a credentialed teacher three days a week, to provide instructional time with each grade level. Our RTI teacher joins the two classroom teachers at each grade level, three times every week (starting in October) so that the three teachers can create three groups to meet the needs of our students. By providing an additional teacher and providing smaller instructional groups, our student needs are more directly met. Please click here to view a brochure, created by the Ventura County Office of Education, which explains the RTI program in greater detail.
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