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  Smith Academy for Excellence

Academic Curriculum

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Literacy
Scholars will apply literal and figurative meanings and implications of words in context.
They will analyze, synthesize and summarize multiple informational documents in
light of the audience and purpose to demonstrate comprehension. Scholars will
also compare and contrast aspects of various genres and describe the
contributions of major literary movements.

When writing informational pieces, scholars will use a variety of strategies to
develop topics for different purposes to different audiences including quality
research, synthesis of information and well supported conclusions. For literary
texts, scholars will use a variety of planning strategies and write well
organized pieces with well developed settings, plots, and characters using
quality literary devices. Scholars will use effective structures, varied word
choice and proper spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Scholars will analyze the language, organization, evidence, and delivery or oral
communications. They will also develop and deliver well organized presentations
incorporating visual aids, technology and effective nonverbal elements. Scholars
will clarify a speaker or writer’s purpose and audience and choose appropriate
format for communication. They will also ask relevant questions of
speakers.

Four areas of literacy will be seamlessly integrated into the curriculum of the
academy. All scholars, regardless of grade level or subject area, will be taught
these literacy skills:

Reading – Subjects: history, math, English, elective, science
- For content (both literal and inferential)
- To apply pre-reading, during reading and post-reading strategies to all reading
assignments, including determining purpose and pre-learning vocabulary
- To research a topic
- To gather information
- To comprehend an argument
- To determine the main idea of a passage
- To understand a concept and construct meaning
- To expand one’s experience

Writing - Subjects: history, math, English, elective, science
- To take notes
- To explain one’s thinking
- To argue a thesis and support one’s thinking
- To compare and contrast
- To write an open response
- To describe an experiment, report one’s findings, and report one’s conclusion
- To generate a response to what one has read, viewed, or heard
- To convey one’s thinking in complete sentences
- To develop an expository essay with a formal structure

Speaking – Subjects: history, math, English, elective, science
- To convey one’s thinking in complete sentences
- To interpret a passage orally
- To debate an issue
- To participate in class discussion or a public forum
- To make an oral presentation to one’s class, one’s peers, one’s community
- To present one’s portfolio
- To respond to what one has read, viewed, or heard
- To communicate in a manner that allows one to be both heard and understood

Reasoning – Subjects: history, math, English, elective, science
- To create, interpret, and explain a table, chart or graph
- To compute, interpret and explain numbers
- To read, break down, and solve a word problem
- To interpret and present statistics that support an argument or hypothesis
- To identify a pattern, explain a pattern, and/or make a prediction based on a pattern
- To detect the fallacy in an argument or a proof
- To explain the log of an argument or solution
- To use analogies and/or evidence to support one’s thinking
- To explain and/or interpret relationships of space and time

Logic and Rhetoric (Speech)
Scholars are to connect and interpret basic facts when using formal logic. The principles
of quality and effective speech and writing are the basis of formal rhetoric.
This incorporates the ability to persuade effectively through the use of sound logical
reasoning. Learning rhetoric helps scholars grapple with ethics, and underlying
causes for actions and the words one uses.

Science
In science, scholars will use physics, chemistry, and biology laws to categorize
and interpret the physical world. They will demonstrate skills using tables,
data, and formulas. They will also do experiments and perform dissections. They
will demonstrate the ability to draw logical conclusions based on
observations.

Humanities (Social Studies)
In Humanities, scholars will read through the works of history and literature from
the ancient world, the medieval world, the American world, and the modern world
as it pertains to their individual grade. Historical periods will be ordered
chronologically. Scholars will read nonfiction, biographies, historical fiction,
and timely pieces from today’s news. They will read, write, and speak about each
period of time as it relates to their particular grade. Information disseminated
in this curriculum will provide scholars with schema from which to draw for the
rest of their lives. Scholars will also study foreign languages.

Math
In Math, scholars will understand ordered relationships as represented by numbers
and mathematical relationships. As they progress, higher level math skills will
be developed and mastered. Number sense, computation, geometry, measurement,
algebra and functions will be developed as they relate to the grade level.
Analysis and prediction will be a major part of each grade’s work. 
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  • Home
  • Our School
    • Quality Education >
      • Technology
      • Standards/Grad Requirements
      • Academic Curriculum
      • Character Education
      • Service Learning
      • College Preparation
      • Special Education
      • English Language Learners
    • Vision and Mission
    • Parent Involvement
    • Clubs and Activities
    • Mentor Program
    • Transportation
    • Meal Program
  • Enrollment Info
    • Enrollment Policies
    • Pre-Enroll Online Now!
  • Resources
    • Policies
    • School Calendar
    • eLearning
    • Academic Resources
    • Map
    • Helpful Links
    • Board Members' Page
  • Events
  • Athletics
  • Media
    • SAFE In The News
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • About Us
    • Board
    • Administration
    • Educational Philosophy
    • Grace College: Authorizer
    • The Leona Group: EMO
    • Partners
  • Support SAFE
  • Contact SAFE
    • Careers with Leona