ATA Curriculum Summaries
Spalding
All five elements of the language arts are taught: spelling, reading, writing, listening and speaking. Spelling is the first component taught in the Spalding Integrated Language Arts Program. After learning the first 45 of the 70 phonograms students begin working with lists of common English words and begin to write and decode words. Reading continues to be taught through the Spalding Integrated Language Arts Program and consists of instruction in comprehension, text structure, attributes of quality literature and reading fluently with expression.
Singapore
Research has long indicated that mathematics instruction in Asian countries far surpasses that of standard math instruction in the Western world. The country of Singapore is a recognized world leader in math education. Singapore Math was first imported to the United States in 1998. Strategies involve teaching a strong number sense, mental-math skills and a deep understanding of place value. In the primary grades, colorful math manipulatives aid students in “seeing” number relationships. Students move to a drawing stage then graduate to the abstract level. While the processes of math are taught, the relationship of numbers and a depth of thinking are emphasized. Singapore Math is a balance between drills and creative problem solving. The Singapore approach focuses on creating problem solvers with Singapore’s 8 Steps to Model Drawing, a visual approach to solving word problems. The students are encouraged to think the problem through in a step-by-step manner.
Excellence in Writing
The mechanics of how to write quality paragraphs are taught through Excellence in Writing. Students begin by imitating the works of other writers. They learn to take key words from existing text, verbally retell the information, and then rewrite it using
their own words. They then learn to use stylistic techniques to enhance their writing.
Core Knowledge
The scope and sequence is a shared, solid and sequential body of works that include: basic principles of government, important events of world history, essential elements of mathematics, science and of oral and written expression, widely acknowledged masterpieces of art and music and stories and poems passed down from generation to generation. The Core Knowledge Foundation does not publish a curriculum or textbook. Instead, it provides a detailed list of ideas, people, events and concepts that are to be taught at each grade level. ATA utilizes the Core Knowledge Scope and Sequence for science, history, geography, civics and economics. ATA also utilizes the scope and sequence to integrate music and the arts into all subjects.
Latin - grades 2-3
grades 4-8
Leaders in the medical, legal and science professions encourage Latin instruction. The foundation of many of the world’s languages is Latin, including Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and even English. By learning the vocabulary and structure of this ancient speech, children are able to develop an understanding of many words they read that they have not before encountered. Minimus, a mouse guide, leads us through a curriculum program in grades 2 & 3. Latin for Children is the textbook for grades 4 -8.
