PhilosophyMartha's Vineyard Public Charter School provides Project Based Learning Opportunities. Thematic integrated curriculum is prevalent in the classrooms on a daily basis. Individualization of instruction, student choice, public exhibitions of achievement, and community service are vital aspects of the school’s Project Based learning pedagogy. The MVPCS uses the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks to structure and guide curriculum at all developmental levels.
Personal Education PlansWe have created a video about Martha's Vineyard Charter School PEPs — with students, parents and teachers. It can be found here. > Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School provides Personal Education Plans.PEPs are regular, personalized & goal-oriented conversations with students, teachers and parents. Different from parent-teacher conferences, PEPs provide each student an opportunity to become involved in and take ownership of their educational experience by permitting them the forum to express themselves and advocate for their own education and school experience. KindergartenLanguage Arts Throughout the school year students experience a variety of reading and writing activities which instill the desire to learn to read and write, develop phonemic awareness, foster important language concepts, encourage letter and sound recognition, teach essential print ideas, and extend vocabulary. These six critical understandings are stressed in the Building Blocks balanced literacy program. • Desire To Learn To Read & Write - Create an environment where all students see themselves becoming independent readers and writers through a variety of developmentally appropriate activities. • Language Concepts - Foster the ability to read and write words through the use of morning messages, journal entries, sentence building activities, and environmental print. • Print Concepts - Teach print concepts by modeling how to write and participating in shared reading and shared writing experiences. • Phonemic Awareness - Develop phonemic awareness, including the concept of rhyme, through activities with poetry, rhyming books, tongue twisters, and playing with language. • Interesting Words - Extend the list of real-life words that students find personally relevant, such as favorite restaurant names, favorite cartoon characters, and family members. • Letters & Sounds
- Encourage letter and sound recognition through activities with alphabet
books, beginning and ending sounds, and shared writing of predictable charts. Math The Everyday Math textbook series
introduced at this level facilitates understanding of math concepts, which
include number sense, patterns, and geometry. Math concepts are introduced
throughout the school year using a variety of activities and games. Social Studies The students are encouraged to focus on
building a healthy and unified community. Cooperation, responsibility, respect,
and trust are daily areas of focus as they relate to the school’s Bill of
Rights. Throughout the thematic studies during the year, the students explore
varying global attributes to help them understand their
relationship to others. Science Activities encourage students to investigate,
question, experience, and experiment through the process of discovery and
inquiry. Critical thinking and research skills are goals of the program. Community The island community plays a large role in the entire classroom experience. Visits to people and places on the Island enhance our studies. For example, journeys to fish markets, boat builders, commercial fishermen, and a charter boat fishing trip augments the classroom study of oceans. Grades 1 and 2English
Language Arts The
language arts program incorporates principles and activities from a number of
approaches to guide instruction. Within
different groupings, reading skills are addressed and include word work,
decoding strategies, reading fluency and comprehension. The students work with the whole group on
sight word work and spelling. In
addition, whole group read alouds help students explore various authors, books
and poetry. Small, flexible, multi age
reading teams work together based on similar reading levels and skills. Independent work includes reading to self, reading
to others, listening to reading, working on writing, and word work. The children write throughout the curriculum
for different purposes: the development
of ideas, organization, writing voice, penmanship, spelling, and vocabulary
development are continually addressed. Mathematics The Everyday
Mathematics program is used at this level. The students are divided into
first and second grade groups. The continuous two-year program introduces,
revisits, and reinforces numerous concepts and skills. Daily whole group
discussions encourage the use of mathematical vocabulary, and guide the
students as they make connections and learn problem-solving strategies. These
are followed by hands-on activities, cooperative math games, and independent
journal work. Components of the curriculum include geometry, measurement, data,
diagrams, graphs, numeration, patterns and algebra, operations and computation. Social
Studies Social
studies is interwoven within thematic studies and the two-year curriculum
coincides with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks of history and
geography, economics, civics and government. At the beginning of each year, the
children are introduced to the school’s pillars and bill of rights. These principles guide the children as they conduct themselves independently
and interact with others in the learning community. Social studies based themes
include exploration of heritage and the world, patriotic signs and symbols, and
famous historical figures. Literature such as folk tales, historical fiction,
and non-fiction texts help the students to research within these themes. Map
skills using a variety of maps and globes are used in both social studies and
science. Science Inquiry
based learning drives the science portion of the thematic studies curriculum.
This involves the children in questioning, predicting, exploring, observing,
and recording the world and experiences around them. Research skills using nonfiction
texts along with hands on science experiments and activities are included.
Within the two-year span, the themes include the study of Earth and Space,
Dinosaurs, The Ocean, Simple Machines and Inventions, The Human Body and
Nutrition. The class uses the Island community to supplement its science
studies. Specials Physical
Education, Music, Art, Spanish, Drama, and electives (Artists in Residence) are part of each student’s
week. Grades 3 and 4English
Language Arts The curriculum integrates content area themes with language arts skills. The qualities of good writing - focus, detail and structure are taught in a writing workshop setting. Students organize, draft, revise and edit their writing for a variety purposes. Reading takes place independently as well as in supervised small groups everyday. Read aloud is tied to content areas with selections from many genres. Spelling instruction takes place in small groups, using the Spelling Workout Program, and utilizes the close ties between spelling and phonics. Mathematics Students
are organized into grade 3 and 4 level groups that meet five days a week using the Everyday
Math Program. The program is organized into units of study that spiral back
throughout the year, which gives students the opportunity to be repeatedly
exposed to previously learned skills. Components of the curriculum include
measurement, addition and subtraction, multiplication, and division, place
value, decimals and fractions, algebraic formulas and geometry. Social
Studies The social studies curriculum focuses on exploring human motivations for settling in particular geographic locations. The curriculum includes a study of Massachusetts and its cities and towns from the time of the arrival of the Pilgrims, with specific focus on Martha's Vineyard. Students examine North American political and physical geography, and study Native Peoples of North America. Students work on writing and research skills, cooperative learning, and citizenship throughout the social studies curriculum. Science Thematic
units are at the core of the science curriculum revolving around the study of
plant and animal life cycles, adaptations, electricity and magnetism, rocks and
minerals, matter, space, weather and climate. Inquiring, observing, predicting,
questioning, hypothesizing, and drawing conclusions are present in all
scientific investigations. Specials Physical
Education, Music, Spanish, Art, Drama and electives (Artists in Residence) are
part of the weekly activities for each student. Grades 5 and 6English Language Arts The English language arts program is focused
on literature, composition, and word study. Classics, Fantasy, and the Poetry
Anthology are major components of the literature program during this two-year
cycle. Composition includes narrative, persuasive, and expository writing. Word
study involves vocabulary, spelling, Greek and Latin root words, prefixes,
suffixes, phonics, and dictionary skill work. Thematic units used during the
two-year cycle are Courage, Historical Fiction, and School Literacy
Publication. The students’ understanding of literacy is assessed, in part, using the Leslie, Caldwell,
Gambrell, and Ekwall-Shanker assessment instruments. Mathematics The
mathematics program in fifth and sixth grade uses a problem solving approach that
encourages critical thinking and analysis, mathematical communication and
frequent practice of basic skills. The
ongoing routines and mathematical games are based in the Everyday Math Program. Students revisit the areas of numbers sense and
operation, patterns, relationships and algebra, geometry and measurement and
data analysis frequently throughout the two year cycle to ensure full concept
development. Students meet separately in their
grade levels four times a week using this program. They are assessed weekly using the Accelerated
Math Program. In this program,
students are able to assess a variety of objectives and move at their own level
to master operational skills. Both
programs have objectives linked to the MVPCS Math assessment tool. Students are encouraged to actively monitor
their progress with the instructor using the assessment tool. Social Studies The thematic driven curriculum includes US
History, exploration, colonization, slavery, World Geography, the American
Revolution, and Native American studies. Research and analysis of
nonfiction texts, secondary and primary sources, oral presentations, art,
theater, music, poetry, chart and map study are all used to gain a greater
understanding of history, economics, civics and government, and geography. Science The
Science program uses an active, inquiry-based approach to discovery. Each year students study Geology, Biology, Physics, and
Chemistry. Each year of the two-year
cycles varies in how we approach these topics through different projects tied
to scientific inquiry. Active
exploration, experimentation, observation, class discussion, nonfiction
literature, writing through these projects
are the strategies used to enhance learning. Collecting,
presenting and analyzing data on Martha's Vineyard and its resources are
an integral part of this curriculum. Spanish The Spanish language program is focused on building basic conversation skills. Units of study include: Spanish alphabet, foods, days of the week, numbers, months, colors, likes and dislikes, leisure activities, body parts, family, clothing and weather. Students research and study geography of Spanish speaking countries and learn about cultural traditions. Spanish is studied and practiced through games, theater, readings, written activities and art projects. Quizzes are given to account for student’s learning and comprehension. Specials Each student’s week includes Art, Physical Education, Drama and Electives (Offerings and Artists in Residences). Each student is invited to participate in the school’s Mentorship Program. Grades 7 and 8English Language Arts The program uses a reading and writing
Workshop Model in which large blocks of time are designated to reading and
writing. Each
thematic unit is focused around a novel or other text. Texts read over the
two-year rotation may include: The
Adventures of Ulysses by Bernard Evslin, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, The
Giver by Lois Lowry, The Pigman
by Paul Zindel, and Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck, as well as various poetry, short stories and works of
non-fiction. Language
arts lessons focus on literary analysis, craft and organization of writing, vocabulary, and
grammar. Mathematics The upper middle school mathematics course is a two year program designed in alignment with the standards described by the Massachusetts State Frameworks. An integrated, differentiated curriculum, comprised of pre-algebra, geometry, number sense, data analysis and probability, presents the opportunity for students to develop skills and conceptual understanding that will aid them in enhancing their problem solving abilities. Students learn to utilize graphing calculators as they are introduced to exponents, radicals, equations and other pre-algebra concepts. Students learn to use the calculators to enter data and analyze measures of central tendencies. Computers are employed to aid in introducing geometry concepts. Small group and one on one instruction along with guided practice allows each student the opportunity to develop conceptual understanding at an individualized pace, allowing for a successful math experience for students with a variety of abilities. Social Studies In this two year course students study the foundations of human society and the development of cultures around the world. The scope of study is broad from our most distant ancestors through to the Holocaust. Students gain a deep understanding of human behavior and the role of geographic location in the development of societies. We examine the archeological and scientific evidence for African genesis and human migration across the globe. We examine the rise of civilizations in river valleys and the spread of culture by the sea peoples around the Mediterranean. The classical civilizations of Greece and Rome and the development of western civilization are examined. The course examines the environmental, social, political, religious and economic aspects of the classical world through to the Medieval through the Renaissance. Science Middle School Integrated Physical and Biological Science The interdisciplinary semester has a heavy emphasis on the physical sciences. Students use Holt's "Physical Science" as the basis for our study. The text is supplemented with additional readings, movies, labs, and project work. Students continue the study of chemistry, focusing on the behavior of matter under the influence of forces. We then examine Newton's Laws of Motion, forces, simple machines, e/m waves, sound, and light. Our investigations in physics are correlated to biological systems. For example, when we examine forces and motion, we also examine the skeletal structure, function, and movement and when we examine waves and their behavior, we also examine sound and vision in mammals. Middle School Oceanography The theme is the “ocean”. Around this theme students explore several scientific concepts. The curricular areas touched upon utilizing this theme are; geology, astronomy, cellular structure, function and reproduction, food chains and webs, classification systems for biological organisms, ecosystems and technology. Students undertake individualized research incorporating readings, movies, field work, guest speakers, labs, etc. Students are asked to create several models both in and out of class. Students undertake a team research project on another planet in our solar system. They are asked to investigate and present information under the guise of real estate developers. Students create a classification system for a group of objects of their own choosing. During our focus on technology, students build model boats and/or hovercrafts. Spanish The Spanish language program is focused on building conversation skills. Students create individual and group projects from the various units of study: greetings and basic conversation, the calendar, numbers, leisure activities, school, descriptions, food, family, the house, likes and dislikes, and time. Emphasis is given to making grammatically correct sentences and learning the way verbs are conjugated. The cultural traditions, art, history, music, cinema, literature, sports, dance, politics, cuisine, and geography of various Spanish speaking countries are studied. Vocabulary is practiced through games, theater, readings, written activities and art projects. Tests are given to account for student’s learning and comprehension. Specials Each student studies Art, Physical Education,
and Electives (Offering and Artists in Residence classes) each week. Each
student is invited to participate in the school’s Mentorship Program. Grades 9 and 10
English The program uses a reading and writing
Workshop Model in which large blocks of time are designated to reading and
writing. Each
thematic unit is focused around a novel or other text. Texts read over the
two-year rotation may include: A Raisin
in the Sun, The Catcher in the Rye,
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The House on Mango Street, and To
Kill a Mockingbird, as well as various poetry, short stories and works of
non-fiction. Language
arts lessons focus on literary analysis, craft and organization of writing, vocabulary, and
grammar. Mathematics The
First Years mathematics course is a two year program designed in alignment with
the standards described by the Massachusetts State Frameworks. An integrated
differentiated curriculum, comprised of algebra, geometry, number sense and statistics,
presents the opportunity for students to develop skills and conceptual
understanding that will aid them in enhancing abilities to solve application
problems. Students learn to utilize graphing calculators to analyze linear,
exponential and quadratic equations. Students make use of the calculators in
creating box whisker and scatter plots and to determine the Measures of Central
Tendencies of data sets. Guided practice allows each student the opportunity to
continue to develop conceptual understanding at an individualized pace,
allowing for a successful math experience for students with a variety of
abilities. Social Studies The History of the United States is a collaborative effort to collect, discover, uncover and design an accessible history that has relevance, power, impact and interest for a diverse community. It is an ongoing social/historical exploration of the United States of America from Colonial times to the present. This course is meant to prepare students as citizens of the United States who understand the vital role that is theirs in shaping and maintaining Liberty. The history of the United States is founded in the idea of defeating tyranny, injustice and the abuses of power. The history, geography, government and economy of The United States of America are ours. The way we tell our story will shape the future. Science First Years’ Biology Course Description This is a full year, lab-based course which culminates in the MCAS test for High School Science (a requirement for graduation from a Massachusetts Public School). Biology literally means “the study of life”. We begin by examining the hallmarks of life as a basis for an examination of plant, animal, and bacterial cellular structure and function. Biological topics covered include genetics, evolution, comparative anatomy and physiology, environments, and ecosystems in a constructivist manner. First Year's Introductory Physical Science Course Description We utilize Holt's "Spectrum: An Integrated Approach", a science textbook, as a basis for ongoing inquiry into physics. Concepts covered include Newton's Laws of Motion, motion, forces, simple machines, waves, sound, heat, and light. Students undertake and report on several self-directed investigations utilizing a variety of materials and substances and participate in more traditional labs. Multi-faceted projects undertaken in groups include a wind turbine project and a bridge building project. Spanish In the Spanish language program,
students practice their Spanish by conversing frequently and having to use a
great deal of listening comprehension. They are exposed to various short
stories, songs, poems, biographies and articles from Spanish Magazines. The
following units of study are used to build fluency: food, the calendar,
numbers, currency, correct use of verbs, telling time, school, personal
opinions, leisure activities, purchasing items, descriptions, family, the home
and events. Emphasis is given to making grammatically correct sentences. The
cultural traditions, art, history, music, cinema, literature, sports, dance,
politics, cuisine, and geography of various Spanish speaking countries are
studied. Vocabulary is practiced through conversation, games, theater,
readings, written activities and art projects. Videos are used to build fluency
and historical information. Tests are given to account for student’s learning
and comprehension. Art First Years' Art focuses on
building upon prior knowledge from the feeder course, Introduction to
Art. Students are challenged to take their technical mastery of materials
and conceptually based themes in their work to a more sophisticated
level. Exploration of more advanced art techniques is also
introduced. Students are introduced to materials such as basic copper
acid-etch relief techniques, soldering, ceramics, stained glass, and drawing
and painting. Portfolio This year-long course is designed to support each student in planning and completing a portfolio. Portfolio work is characterized by independent research and study over an extended period of time resulting in a piece of work presented to and assessed by a panel of experts. Specials Physical Education and Electives are part of each student’s week. In addition, each student participates in a weekly Mentorship with an Island adult in an area of interest to the student. Each student is also required to complete a community service project annually. Grades 11 and 12English World and American Literature are examined
during this two-year program of study. Drama, novels, poetry, short stories,
essays, and speeches are examined. Students are asked to write poetry, fiction,
self-evaluations, review essays, author studies, and speeches. Vocabulary and
word etymology are focused on in this program. Math There are two sections of Penultimate/Ultimate math: Precalculus and Algebra II. In the Precalculus section, the course reviews exponents and radicals, algebraic and rational expressions, equations, inequalities, coordinate geometry and lines, graphing polynomial functions and transformations, and logarithms. This review serves as a base or the approach to trigonometry, which is studied in-depth during the second half of first semester: trigonometric functions of real numbers; trigonometric graphs and trig functions of angles. Polar graphing (using computer animation for visualization), sequence and series, and complex numbers (in the form of Fractal Geometry) are included in this course. Second semester focuses primarily on Analytic Trigonometry. The Algebra II section expands on the Algebra topics with a preview of Trigonometry in the second semester. Science Environmental Science is the focus of this course. A broad range of subjects is interwoven into each course including Evolution, ecology, ethics, statistics, technology, economics, business law, history, and social science. The Environmental Science course investigates the direct and indirect impact of humans on the natural world. Our objective is to come to our own understandings and conclusions about the state of our Earth and where we, as a global community, are heading. World History This class explores, in a historical context, the ways that identity -- gender (what it means to be a female or male), race, ethnicity, class, and other kinds of identity – might shape the way we view and experience our own community of Martha’s Vineyard and the larger world. Our readings include sections from George Fredrickson’s “Racism: A Short History” to begin a comparison of antisemitism and white supremacy; Aurora Levins Morales’ “Remedios” to think about women during the era of early global contact and colonization; and an essay by Edward Hall on cross-cultural behavior in Japan and the Middle East. To help us better understand the connection of historical issues to contemporary ones, we base our discussions on a variety of newspaper articles and segments from TV news programs, as well as sections from Eduardo Galeano’s “Open Veins of Latin America”. Throughout the semester we examine various national and international issues to look at how they are addressed by the media, and the implications of the terms employed to address certain issues. Portfolio This year-long course is designed to support each student in planning and completing a portfolio. Portfolio work is characterized by independent research and study over an extended period of time resulting in a piece of work presented to and assessed by a panel of experts. Art Advanced Art focuses on a curriculum combination of both the
Advanced Placement College Board Art framework and student-driven self directed
projects. Students are challenged to create work that reflects more
refined, elaborate, and complex departure from first year work. Advanced
Art also serves the population of students who may choose to pursue a career in
the industry of art. A digital portfolio is a requirement of this
course and students may include it in their college application materials. Spanish In the Spanish language program,
students practice their Spanish by conversing frequently and having to use a
great deal of listening comprehension. Students are exposed to various short
stories, poems, songs, biographies, and articles from Spanish Magazines. The
following themes are studied to build fluency: climate and seasons, describing
one’s self others, school, Famous Hispanics, cultural traditions and
celebrations, regular and irregular verbs in different tenses, routines,
clothing, food, and health. Students work at their own pace on various grammar
and vocabulary exercises. The cultural traditions, art, history, music, cinema,
literature, sports, dance, politics, cuisine, and geography of various Spanish
speaking countries are studied. Vocabulary is practiced through conversation,
games, theater, readings, written activities and art projects. Videos were used
to build fluency and historical information. Tests are given to account for
student’s learning and comprehension. Specials Each student participates in Community Service Learning and Electives. In addition, each student is engaged in a
mentorship experience in an area of interest to the student. Offerings, Project Period, & Artists-in-ResidenceIn addition to addressing student interests during the daily classroom structure, the MVPCS puts great emphasis on the afternoon Offerings, the two week Project Periods in January and June, and the ongoing Artists-in-Residence Program. The Offerings are electives offered to the ten through fourteen-year old-students. They take place on Monday and Friday afternoons. During these classes, teachers share a variety of learning experiences with students, which often center on the teacher’s own interests and hobbies. Some of the course titles have been: Homework Club, Theater Skills, Mentorships, Independent Art, Aromatherapy, Botball, Knitting, Comfortable Reading, Skate Park, Play Writing, Gardening, Yearbook, Out and About Photography, Hiking, Sketching and Reflecting, How Did They Do That?, Outdoor Adventures and Leatherworking. Project Period takes place twice a year, for two weeks in February, and two weeks in June. The students select a two-week course of study from an array of
courses designed by the faculty. Curriculum connections to the MA Curriculum
Frameworks as well as student interests are
the foundation of each course. Each course concludes with a public exhibition of the work accomplished
during the two week, fifty hour course.
Course titles have been: Film making, Careers in Food, Interior
Design, Medieval Madness, Walkabout in Vermont, Island Walkabout, Canoeabout, Outdoor Art, Illustration and Advanced Art. The Artists-in-Residence Program has existed since the school first opened. Every student in grades K - 8 has the opportunity to participate in these weekly, Wednesday afternoon, multi-age classes. Students engage in a variety of artistic endeavors while directly learning from the experts. Course titles have been: Artist’s Workshop, Felt and Fleece, 3D Art, Clay Days, Space Academy, Paper Art, Writing, Comic Strip, Knitting, Theater, Tae Kwon Do, and Cake-Decorating. Mentorships at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School provide students with an opportunity to work with a volunteer mentor in the community in an individualized learning situation. Mentorships help students make thoughtful career decisions, discover new areas of interest and spend quality time with adult role models in real life situations. While the mentors teach and model their areas of expertise, it is expected that the students in turn, will help the mentors with their work. These off campus experiences help students discover new areas of interest and guide students towards making thoughtful career decisions. Mentorships have included work with photographers, fine artists, teachers, chefs, writers, doctors, carpenters and psychologists. Generally, students attend their mentorships one day per week for two hours a session. |