2013 mvps catalog

Calvert Partners • World-class Virtual Education 1

INSPIRE

2013/14 Curriculum Catalog

Learn more:

CalvertVirtualSchools.org

(877) 485-8283

We Chose the Trusted Leader in Distance Education for Your Child

When we decided to add a distance

learning option to our school system, we

searched for the best distance learning partner

we could find, and are pleased to have chosen

Calvert. Calvert, began providing distance

learning over 100 years ago, and today

their curriculum is used all over the world in

virtual schools, charter schools and homes.

We believe Calvert is dedicated to

inspiring students to realize their full potential

in a 21st-century learning environment

using a proven curriculum and expert

instructional support systems designed to

encourage academic excellence. Calvert

also tailors their program to your child, so

she receives the best possible education.

Why We Chose the Calvert CurriculumWe chose Calvert because of their world-renowned curriculum, their reputation for academic excellence, and the exceptional support they provide to every family enrolled. Calvert partners with our faculty, staff and you to create a learning environment that empowers your student to achieve academic success.

The Benefits We See From Calvert• The freedom to balance flexibility and structure for

your family

• Tuition-free access to the time-tested, accredited Calvert program and support network

• Step-by-step daily lesson plans

• Instruction supported by highly qualified teachers

• Clear academic objectives for individualized learning

• An excellent balance of online and offline learning

• The Verticy Learning option, a specialized curriculum designed to help struggling readers

• Instructional technologies for 21st-century learning

• A curriculum that will prepare your child for future schooling

world-class educationvirtual

“As a teacher I love the ability to combine textbook learning with online enrichment and support, plus monitor my students’ progress.”Susan HenryLead Advisory Teacher, Chehalem Online Learning Alliance

2 Calvert Partners • World-class Virtual Education


The Calvert Experience

Educating your child outside of a traditional classroom gives you more choices and more flexibility, and

the opportunity to be directly involved in your child’s education. When you choose Calvert, you can be

confident that you are receiving the very best education for your child.

A successful, enriching educational experience

The CurriculumThe Calvert curriculum is a high-quality, research-based, standards-aligned program of study designed to prepare your child for success in school and in life. Developed by curriculum and distance learning experts, the Calvert curriculum provides your child a challenging and integrated educational experience with emphasis on grammar, composition, and critical thinking. Instruction is sequenced in manageable steps, reinforced by multimedia experiences to engage children with different learning styles. Both the curriculum and its presentation is refined and updated every year, to take advantage of new research, new technology and new ways to help your child succeed.

Verticy LearningVerticy Learning is a curriculum option for students with language-based learning differences (LLDs) such as dyslexia, or who are struggling with reading, writing or math. This curriculum is based on the world-renowned, Orton-Gillingham method of teaching and time-tested, multi-sensory strategies to best match how each child learns. Verticy Learning can help your frustrated student become a confident, focused, independent reader and writer.

It All Works TogetherTo emphasize and reinforce key concepts, skills and information are integrated within topics and across subjects. For example, the readings in the literature course follow the time period being studied in history. Composition skills learned in language arts are applied when writing essays and reports in literature and history. Computation, data analysis, and graphing skills that are learned in math are applied when students develop spreadsheets to display results from a science investigation. Technology skill application is woven throughout all subjects to ensure students succeed in a 21st century digital environment. In each subject area, students build on what they already know to successfully grasp new concepts and skills.

The Calvert Lesson ManualDaily lesson plans let you spend more

time teaching and less time planning

The Lesson Area The area in the middle of the screen displays the

current lesson featuring the same instruction as the printed manual. All resource links are live, and navigation is easy in this online version.

The Menu Bar The menu bar at the top of the screen allows users

to navigate to other pages, view printer-friendly versions of the manual, and subscribe to instant curriculum updates.

The Navigation Area At the left of the screen, users can navigate to other

lessons, general instructions, and, in appropriate grade levels, a learning strategies section and sentence diagramming companion.

Resources Section Additional resources that correspond to the current

lesson are located on the right of the screen. Resources may include:

n Interactive math activities

n Grammar review videos

n Interactive instructional videos

n Interactive computer skills lessons and activities

n Online activities n BrainPOP n Discovery Education n Virtual Nerd

n Checkpoints

n Practice tests

What’s Included in the Lesson Manual• Suggested daily schedule

• Tips for the Learning Guide

• List of daily materials

• Assignment summary

• Clear objectives

• Step-by-step instructions

• Automatic curriculum updates

• Learning strategies

• Online and Multimedia Learning Resources

• Online daily Checkpoints

Lesson Manuals are the “gold” of

the Calvert curriculum. They provide

complete, step-by-step daily plans for

all subjects to facilitate an efficient

school day. Lesson Manuals are

delivered in both online and print

versions. Online manuals contain rich

embedded instructional resources and

links. Each Lesson Manual contains

a course outline for each subject,

instructions on how to use the manual,

a suggested daily schedule and tips

for the Learning Guide. The Lesson

Manuals weave instruction from one

subject to the next to help students

retain information and build a solid

academic foundation.

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3

1

4


Computer not included. Materials and books subject to change.

Look for these icons in your Lesson Manual directing you to online and multimedia resources that correspond to the lesson.

WebVisit a World Wide Web URL address.

ActivityEngage in an online interactive activity.

VideoWatch an instructional video online.

AudioListen to a CD or online audio file (mp3).

PhotoLook at a still image online.

e-TextbookUse your electronic textbook.

CheckpointComplete an online assessment.

Rate This LessonRate the lesson using the Five-Star Rating System— we listen. Your comments and suggestions are valued!

Browse our online Lesson Manual demo at: www.calvertschool.org/lessonmanual

Take a look


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Interactive multimedia learning takes less time, is enjoyed more, and increases learning. Calvert has integrated technology with textbooks and traditional resources to provide your child with a dynamic, fun and enriching learning experience.

The best part is that all students using Calvert or Verticy have access to these engaging online resources.

Learning made fun with interactive and multimedia resourcesCalvert Online Resources

LEARNING GUIDE PORTAL All GradesThe Learning Guide Portal is your online tool to oversee, support and enhance your child’s academic journey. In this password protected site, you will find:• Gradebook• Tracking for your student’s progress• Answer keys for daily work

STUDENT PORTAL All GradesEach student receives access to an online portal containing links to instructional support and online resources. These resources are customized to support your child’s course and are designed to enhance and reinforce lessons.

Calvert i-Library All GradesCalvert i-Library contains interactive resources, tools, and supplemental activities including website reviews, age-appropriate activities, and even an astronomy portal. Online versions of Encyclopedia Britannica®, World Atlas, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Collegiate Thesaurus, and Multimedia Library are also included.

Calvert i-Library



Discovery Education STREAMING Grades K–8 Calvert presents concept-specific videos from Discovery Education STREAMING. The videos will engage your child and help bring lessons alive. You will be thrilled with the quality of the videos and the learning benefits they provide.

BrainPOP Grades K–8 Interactive multimedia learning is more than just fun; it increases learning. Calvert presents interactive tools featuring videos, games, and quizzes from BrainPOP. Your child will love using the online activities that are an integrated part of the Calvert experience.

Interactive Computer Skills Grades K–8Computer aptitude is a vital skill. Calvert Computer Skills are subject-integrated, animated and child-friendly to help children develop word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation software, HTML basic programming, desktop publishing, and web research skills.

Game-Based Math Practice Grades K–5Learning math is fun with web-delivered supplemental math activities. This game-based program uses rich, multisensory activities designed to improve learning while developing higher level problem-solving and reasoning skills.

Calvert Mastery Series: Spelling Grades 3–7Incorporating dynamic activities while using “smart” technology to create individualized learning, Calvert’s Online Spelling program encourages the mastery of spelling skills.

e-Textbooks Publisher-provided electronic versions of selected textbooks contain additional resources, such as video clips, auto-graded practice tests, quizzes, and valuable support material.

Virtual Nerd Grades 6–8 Online math help is available in the form of video tutorials. Sometimes a different perspective can help get the point across.

Calvert Instructional Videos Grades 5–8Calvert’s math, grammar, composition, and history instructional videos are engaging and interactive. These tutorial videos are aligned to lesson objectives and help with retention.

Curriculum Checkpoints Grades K–8Online, concise, objective assessments at the end of every lesson are automatically graded to give you instant feedback regarding your child’s mastery of the lesson’s concepts.

BrainPOP Online Activity

Calvert Online Spelling Program

Instructional Composition Video

Game-Based Math PracticeDiscovery Education STREAMING Videos

Virtual Nerd


Customized CurriculumAmong the reasons we chose Calvert is their ability to help us tailor your child’s course of study. Each child is unique, and with Calvert’s placement services and specially developed placement test, we will determine a custom placement to fit your child’s skills in math and grammar/composition/spelling. This placement flexibility ensures that your child is positioned for a successful year.

Collaborate With Your Supervising TeacherYour Supervising Teacher develops a personal relationship with you and your child to establish goals for the academic year and plot achievement milestones. Throughout the year, the Supervising Teacher evaluates progress against established goals and offers suggestions and strategies. This ongoing academic planning is a fundamental ingredient ensuring a positive academic outcome for your child.

Individualizing Your SupportCultivating a nurturing learning environment not only encourages your child’s love of learning, but helps your child receive the best education possible. This is achieved through the ongoing partnership of your Supervising Teacher, Calvert’s academic services team, and you. Your Supervising Teacher guides you through the school year and collaborates with Calvert grade level experts to provide you and your child with individualized support.

Support for Your Success

Our team of professional educators helps you and your child every step of the way

We are dedicated to helping your child get the best education possible. When you enroll in ourschool, you are not alone. We’re in this together: you, your child’s Supervising Teacher, our school system and the Calvert Academic Services Team, all sharing a commitment to your child’s academic success.

Measuring Results

Monitoring your child's progress helps ensure academic success

Daily curriculum Checkpoints

After finishing a lesson, your child will complete concise, objective online

questions that give you instant feedback on comprehension and retention of

the lesson’s main ideas. Responses are automatically graded and recorded in the

online Learning Management System (LMS).

Daily attendance trackingDaily attendance plays a vital role in a

student’s academic achievement and success. Online features allow our school

to track your child’s attendance to ensure state regulatory compliance is met.

Weekly or biweekly check-insSome Supervising Teachers may conduct one-on-

one phone or webcam sessions with you and your child, helping to build a solid relationship and provide

personal interaction, guidance, and feedback.

Monthly performance evaluationsA portfolio of your child’s tests will be evaluated,

offering personalized feedback and guidance.

District and state assessmentsAs a public school student, your school district and state

may require your child to participate in the quarterly benchmark assessments and the annual state assessment

program. The results of these assessments not only provide you information about your child’s progress, but they also

serve as indicators about the school’s overall effectiveness.

One of the most important keys to academic success is regularly monitoring your child’s performance and progress. A virtual education using the Calvert curriculum includes tools to help ensure that your child is meeting or exceeding performance expectations and mastering grade-level content. Your Supervising Teacher uses these assessment tools throughout the year to address concerns and adjust the academic program as needed. Additionally, your school district may require standardized achievement tests.


Support for Your Success


KindergartenHands-on, active learning

MathStudents explore Math by learning about fractions, money, shapes, time, and simple addition and subtraction.

Language ArtsThis phonics-based approach uses colorful, read-aloud phonics storybooks and poetry to introduce and reinforce short vowel and consonant sounds, sequencing, auditory and visual discrimination, classifying and rhyming.

ScienceStudents study topics such as the seasons, weather, the human body, plants and space.

Social StudiesStudents discuss community, transportation, and significant people and events.

TechnologyWord processing and graphics applications are introduced.

MusicStudents learn traditional children’s songs and finger plays.

ArtStudents paint, draw with crayons and chalk, and complete craft activities to foster creativity and develop fine-motor skills.

INSIDE YOUR BOX

• Lesson Manual • Teacher Aids

• Letters & Words

• 19 Early Phonics Storybooks • The Music Break CDs (2) • Calvert Math Lesson Manual

• Calvert Math Textbook

• Calvert Math Workbook

• Activity Pages

• Poems & Prose

• Little Big Books – Set of 20 • Read Aloud Books – Set of 10 • Word and Picture Book

• Phonics Library

• Practice Book, Volume 1 & 2

• Supplies ONLINE RESOURCES

• Online Lesson Manual • Game-based Math Practice • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Calvert Parent Community Course content subject to change based on state standards and curriculum updates.

Children enjoy a full-day program featuring a phonics-based learning approach that gives them a solid foundation for reading. Hands-on, interactive activities make learning fun as students are introduced to Technology, Science, handwriting and the fundamentals of music.


Calvert’s spelling and reading are integrated with each other so your child learns and retains phonics basics and the building blocks of language.

First Grade

INSIDE YOUR BOX

• Lesson Manual • Here We Go!

• Let’s Be Friends

• Surprises

• Treasures

• Wonders

• Red Robin, Fly Up!

• Reading Work Pages

• Reading Word Cards

• Calvert Speller

• Phonics Library

• Explore Your World I

• Maps, Globes, Graphs: Level A

• Stories and Longer Verses

• Writing Fun

• Math Lesson Manual

• Math In Focus Textbook

• Math In Focus Workbook

• Science: A Closer Look

• Activity Pages

• Tests

• Science Kit • Supplies ONLINE RESOURCES

• Online Lesson Manual • Game-based Math Practice • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Calvert Parent Community • e-Textbooks • Answer Keys for Daily Work Course content subject to change based on state standards and curriculum updates.

The joy of reading and writing

MathStudents work with two- and three-digit numbers, skip-counting, measurements, addition and subtraction, telling time, and graphs.

Language ArtsThrough activities that develop phonemic awareness, phonics, comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency skills, students build on printing skills and begin to use the distinctive Calvert script. The formal spelling program overlaps with phonics instruction in reading. Students learn to compose sentences on a given topic, lines of poetry, and thank-you notes.

Science An exploration of living things, Earth, weather, matter, motion, and energy excites the imagination.

Social StudiesStudents are inspired by biographies of famous explorers, political figures, inventors, and American leaders.

GeographyStudents explore the five themes of geography and learn basic map skills.

TechnologyComputer studies include word processing, computer navigation, graphics skills, and visual mapping basics.

Second GradeMath applications for real life

Numbers are everywhere with Second Grade Math, which is based on the Singapore method. Math is made both easy and fun with engaging math manipulatives, and online, game-based programs designed to keep children interested and excited.

MathStudents perform complex addition and subtraction, manipulate and measure geometric figures, develop skills with money and measurement, represent data, and work with numbers through the thousands.

Language ArtsPhonics storybooks and reading anthologies reinforce word analysis techniques and develop comprehension skills. Simultaneously, students begin writing dictated words and sentences, learn punctuation and spelling rules, and start to express ideas in original compositions.

ScienceStudents study heat, light, forces, the properties of rocks, the heart and lungs, plants, animals, and habitats.

Social StudiesBiographies of old-world figures, inventors, and leaders in American life expand an understanding of the world.

GeographyStudents learn about exact and relative location, boundaries, and regions while continuing to build basic map skills.

ArtStudents develop skills in drawing and studying famous paintings.

TechnologyTyping, spreadsheets, internet, and e-mail skills are used.

INSIDE YOUR BOX

• Lesson Manual • Adventures

• Delights

• Phonics Library

• Reading Workbook

• Rhymes and Verses

• Explore Your World II

• Maps, Globes, Graphs: Level B

• Calvert Writer with Spelling

• Math Lesson Manual

• Math In Focus Textbook

• Math In Focus Workbook


• Activity Pages

• Art Pictures • Tests


• Online Lesson Manual • Game-based Math Practice • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • Calvert Parent Community • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Answer Keys for Daily Work

Course content subject to change based on state standards and curriculum updates.



Third GradeIn-depth review of history and classic literature

MathStudents use problem-solving and visual representations to interpret data, create tables and graph, add and subtract like and unlike fractions and mixed numbers, express decimals as fractions and mixed numbers, measure angles, and find area and perimeter.

Language ArtsComposition lessons help students further develop writing and reinforce spelling skills. Students are introduced to ancient mythology to foster literature appreciation. Smiling Hill Farm, a classic, but rare, children’s book reprinted exclusively for Calvert, is the first novel students read on their own. It is supplemented by story anthologies. Students begin a more formal interactive, web-based spelling program.

ScienceLife cycles, ecosystems, matter, force, motion, and astronomy, health, and mineralogy are studied.

Social Studies Students begin a more formal study of social studies, focusing on communities.

GeographyStudents learn to identify hemispheres, continents, and oceans. They gain an understanding of longitude, latitude and symbols on maps and graphs.

TechnologySpreadsheets, graphing, and presentation skills are employed throughout subjects.

ArtStudents learn techniques in drawing, perspective, and color.

INSIDE YOUR BOX

• Lesson Manual • Smiling Hill Farm

• Tales From Far and Near, Tales of Long Ago

• Rewards

• Horizons

• Reader’s Library

• Critical Thinking: Level C

• A Child’s Study of Famous Americans

• Gods of Greece

• Let’s Read a Poem

• Everyday Spelling

• Reading Work Pages

• Reading Word Cards

• Phonics: Level C

• Maps, Globes, Graphs: Level C

• Scott Foresman Communities

• NEW! Math Lesson Manual

• NEW! Math In Focus Textbook


• Art Cards • Tests

• Activity Pages


• Online Lesson Manual • Game-based Math Practice • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • Calvert Parent Community • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Calvert Math e-Textbook • Calvert Mastery Series: Online Spelling Program • Answer Keys for Daily Work

OPTIONAL RESOURCES

• Verticy Learning program for struggling readers


Spelling is much more than repetition, memorization, and writing lists. Calvert’s spelling software incorporates fun online activities and uses “smart” technology to create a custom learning experience while your student masters spelling skills.


Fourth GradeIdea expression and scientific discovery

MathStudents use problem-solving and visual representations to interpret data, create tables and graph, add and subtract like and unlike fractions and mixed numbers, express decimals as fractions and mixed numbers, measure angles, and find area and perimeter.

Language ArtsThe reading curriculum relies on classic children’s literature and poetry with lessons designed to increase comprehension, appreciation, and analysis. Students use the writing process to develop original compositions.

ScienceStudents study life science, physical science, and earth science.

Social StudiesStudents study regions of the United States and basic geography using maps, globes and graphs.

TechnologySpreadsheets, tables, charts, and graphs are integrated throughout the curriculum.

ArtStudents improve skills using lines, light sources, and motion.

INSIDE YOUR BOX

• Lesson Manual • Robinson Crusoe

• Island of the Blue Dolphins

• Famous Legends

• Mighty Men

• Poetry Selections

• Critical Thinking: Level D

• Phonics: Level D


• Vocabulary Connections: Level D

• Grammar & Usage




• Maps, Globes, Graphs: Level D

• Regions

• Social Studies Workbook

• State History Courses • Art Cards and Art Pictures • Tests

• Activity Pages

• Science Kit • Supplies

ONLINE RESOURCES

• Online Lesson Manual • Game-based Math Practice • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • Calvert Parent Community • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Calvert Mastery Series: Online Spelling Program • Answer Keys for Daily Work

OPTIONAL RESOURCES



Encourage your young scientist through hands-on experiments. Calvert includes science materials with each grade provide hard-to-find materials needed to conduct science activities while online resources show real-world application.


Fifth Grade In-depth review of history and classic literature

INSIDE YOUR BOX

• Core Lesson Manual • Grammar/Composition/Spelling Manual – Includes Activities and Tests • The Secret Garden

• Sing Down the Moon

• Number the Stars

• Shiloh

• The Sign of the Beaver

• Call It Courage

• Reading Comprehension: Level E

• Critical Thinking: Level E


• Grammar & Usage




• American Tall Tales

• Build Our Nation

• Student Atlas

• A Child’s History of Art: Painting

• Painting Art Cards

• Core Tests

• Core Activity Pages


• Online Lesson Manual • Game-based Math Practice • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • Calvert Parent Community • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Calvert Instructional Videos • Calvert Mastery Series: Online Spelling Program • Answer Keys for Daily Work

OPTIONAL RESOURCES



Imagine your child learning a new topic and then wowing friends by using presentation software to share knowledge and advanced computer skills. Calvert students develop age-appropriate computer skills and apply those skills in various subjects.

MathStudents use problem-solving and visual representations to multiply and divide fractions, simplify algebraic expressions, represent ratios in fraction form, multiply and divide decimals, and classify polygons.

Language ArtsStudents explore connections among American history, literature, and geography by reading classic historical novels such as Sing Down the Moon and Sign of the Beaver. Students also continue their studies in grammar and learn how to write different kinds of compositions.

ScienceAnimal and plant kingdoms, weather, ecosystems, physics of matter, forces, and energy are explored.

Social StudiesStudents continue to learn about American history, from colonial times through the twenty-first century.

GeographyStudents study the regions of the United States, the countries of Latin America, and Canada.

TechnologyResearch and basic HTML skills are introduced.

ArtStudents learn different art techniques including contour, naturalism, and linear perspectives.

Art HistoryUsing A Child’s History of Art: Painting by Virgil Hillyer, students study paintings from ancient Egypt through the modern art movement.


Sixth GradeAn emphasis on independent learning

MathStudents draw on problem-solving skills and prior knowledge to develop an understanding of ratios and proportions, summarize data distributions, compare numbers with percents and ratios, write and evaluate algebraic expressions, and express and compute rates.

Language ArtsStudents develop skills of literary analysis while enjoying poetry, drama, novels, and nonfiction. Grammar study is intensified as students learn how to diagram sentences. Composition skills are honed through various assignments, including a research report.

ScienceEarth science, the environment, weather and climate, and chemical properties and interactions are studied.

HistoryFrom the birth of Western civilization through the fall of Rome, students are awed by the past.

GeographyStudents study the Eastern Hemisphere.

TechnologyURLs, web searches, and presentations are critical skills used for study across subjects.

ArtStudents study Egyptian line drawing, soft-dough sculpture, relief sculpture, and symmetry design. Lessons are coordinated with Art History study.

Art HistoryA Child’s History of Art: Sculpture offers the study of great sculpture from ancient times to the present.

INSIDE YOUR BOX

• Core Lesson Manual

• Grammar/Composition/Spelling Manual – Includes Activities and Tests

• Theras and His Town

• The Phantom Tollbooth

• Explorations: An Anthology

• City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction

• The Master Puppeteer

• One Hundred Years of Poetry for Children

• Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

• Esperanza Rising


• Elements of Language



• Inside Earth

• Chemical Building Blocks

• Chemical Interactions

• Earth’s Waters

• Weather and Climate

• A Message of Ancient Days

• Geography - The World and Its People, Eastern Hemisphere

• A Child’s History of Art: Sculpture

• Sculpture Art Cards

• Core Tests • Core Activity Pages


• Online Lesson Manual • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • Calvert Parent Community • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Calvert Instructional Videos • Calvert Mastery Series: Online Spelling Program • Virtual Nerd • Answer Keys for Daily Work • e-Textbooks • Learning Strategies • How to Diagram a Sentence

OPTIONAL RESOURCES



Language Arts—skill, complexity, and beauty are inherent in the development and structure of language. Sixth Grade students tap into the art of language by reading novels, analyzing poetry, and (gulp!) diagramming sentences.

Calvert’s curriculum is rooted in the classics. Students are immersed in a world of art and architecture as history and art converge. A rich palette of resources including picture cards, online resources, and hands-on art activities combine for a whirlwind virtual tour of the world’s most impressive structures.

Seventh GradeInspired and integrated art and historyMathStudents develop an understanding of proportional relationships, add and subtract integers, perform operations with rational and irrational numbers, simplify algebraic expression, approximate probability and relative frequency, and construct different geometric figures.

Language ArtsStudents continue to build strong grammar and composition skills through descriptive narrative, expository writing, and poetry. Students enjoy novels, poems, and works of nonfiction.

ScienceLife and physical sciences, characteristics of living things, and sound, light, motion, forces, and energy provide understanding of how things work.

HistoryStudents are captivated by the past as they study the fall of Rome through the Enlightenment.

GeographyA study of thematic maps and the Western Hemisphere expands world knowledge.

TechnologyMore sophisticated topics such as networks, web research and validation, desktop publishing, and databases are introduced.

Art Students apply concepts from Art History, including creating trilithons and step pyramids and designing various buildings.

Art HistoryA Child’s History of Art: Architecture is explored with applied lessons designing structures.

INSIDE YOUR BOX



• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

• The Door in the Wall

• Out of the Dust

• Across America on an Emigrant Train

• A Single Shard

• Classic Poems to Read Aloud





• From Bacteria to Plants

• Animals

• Human Biology and Health

• Motion, Forces, and Energy

• Sound and Light

• Across the Centuries

• Geography - The World and Its People, Western Hemisphere

• A Child’s History of Art: Architecture

• Architecture Art Cards • Core Tests • Core Activity Pages


• Online Lesson Manual • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • Calvert Parent Community • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Calvert Instructional Videos • Calvert Mastery Series: Online Spelling Program • Virtual Nerd • Answer Keys for Daily Work • e-Textbooks • Learning Strategies • How to Diagram a Sentence

OPTIONAL RESOURCES




Eighth GradeHigh school preparation and confidence building

INSIDE YOUR BOX



• The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

• The Pearl

• The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

• Reflections: An Anthology

• Stories in Verse


• The Growing Vocabulary



• Cells and Heredity • Earth’s Changing Surface

• Astronomy

• Electricity and Magnetism

• Environmental Science

• America: History of Our Nation

• History and Geography Workbook

• Atlas of United States History

• Core Activity Pages

• Core Tests • Learning Strategies


• Online Lesson Manual • Interactive Computer Lessons • Curriculum Checkpoints • Calvert i-Library • Learning Guide Portal • Calvert Parent Community • BrainPOP Online Interactive Activities • Discovery Education STREAMING • Calvert Instructional Videos • Virtual Nerd • Answer Keys for Daily Work • e-Textbooks • Learning Strategies • How to Diagram a Sentence

OPTIONAL RESOURCES



History is brought to life through the study of famous Americans as your child experiences voices of the past which have made the United States what it is today. Literature selections and a review of primary-source documents through Calvert i-Library give your child a deeper understanding through stories of individual contribution.

MathStudents develop a deep understanding of algebra through statistical applications and representing and comparing functions. Students will also add and subtract using scientific notation, use exponential notation, graph linear equations, analyzing data, and applying geometric transformations.

Language ArtsNarrative poetry and prose correspond to American History. Students are immersed in the country’s intellectual, physical, and political identities. Vocabulary, grammar skills, and reading comprehension are built through poetry reading, speeches, sonnets, plays, and award-winning novels.

SciencePhysical, life, and earth sciences such as electricity, magnetism, the structure of plant and animal cells, genetics, space, topography, and erosion are studied.

HistoryStudents study American History from the discovery of America to modern America.

GeographyStudents review geographic themes, such as spatial growth, demographic patterns, and climatic issues, in the historical context of the United States.

TechnologyStudents master presentation skills, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, and HTML.

Learning StrategiesStudents also master study skills, organizing, test taking, note-taking, and research needed for high school.


Help and hope for students who struggle with reading , writing , spelling , and math

Children learn in different ways. For children with dyslexia or other language-based learning difficulties, conventional teaching strategies often do not work, causing children to lag behind. This results in frustration and unhappiness for both parents and children. Verticy Learning is Calvert’s solution for meeting the needs of not only dyslexic students, but those who learn differently.

Is this your child?• Does your child struggle with reading due to difficulty sounding out words?

• Does your child struggle with spelling due to difficulty matching sounds to letters?

• Do reading and spelling difficulties impact your child’s writing?

• Does reading or writing make your child angry or frustrated?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, Verticy can end the frustration and help your child develop a love of reading, writing and learning which will help them succeed in school.

Reading improved by 2–3 grade levelsResearch shows that Verticy works to significantly improve reading levels, and a student’s ability to read independently, by as much as 2–3 grade levels.

Customized courses designed for the child who:Struggles with reading, writing or spelling

• Experiences issues with memory and retention

• Performs below grade level in reading and writing

• Has difficulty decoding words (sounding out)

• Benefits from a variety of instructional techniques: visual, auditory, tactile (touch), kinesthetic (movement)

• Exhibits frustration and may resist learning

A curriculum personalized for your child Verticy meets your child where he is and moves toward academic goals. The level of each course matches where your child is now, builds on existing skills and challenges your child to progress and excel. The time it takes to reach these goals will vary for each student, however students will gain skills that were previously out of reach and progress on their journey toward academic success and becoming independent learners.

Courses can be customized in four areas:

• Grammar/Composition

• Phonics/Spelling

• Math (Grades 3–8)

• Core Subjects (Grades 3–8) (Social Studies/History, Science, Literature, Geography, Technology and Art)

Learn more about Verticy. Go to verticylearning.org


Moving forward with MathYou will see this educational approach in our choice of the Singapore Math method. Using the textbook Math in Focus, this course incorporates multiple learning strategies to engage all children and their learning styles. Hands-on learning with visual models prepares students for higher-level problem solving.

The Singapore Math method focuses on teaching mathematical concepts in depth, rather than providing a broad survey of topics, as offered by many current math programs. Students study assigned concepts to the point of mastery, which eliminates the need for yearly review. These concepts are then applied to solve real-life problems. We offer the only Singapore Math program that provides instructional support with a detailed lesson manual, manipulatives, and online resources.

The Calvert educational program is accredited by the Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools, a division of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Calvert curriculum is internationally recognized among distance learning organizations, public, and independent schools.

Calvert’s instructional program is based on iNACOL Standards for Online Programs. The Calvert curriculum is aligned to Common Core Standards. Calvert regularly reviews all courses and introduces new materials after considering state standards and the standards established by the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, National Council for Teachers of English, National Council for Teachers of Social Studies, and National Science Teachers Association, as well as the International Society for Technology in Education.

Accreditation and Alignment to Educational Standards

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Watch your school’s website for upcoming events and learning opportunities.

Big News!

High school is on the wayCalvert is now embarking on a new undertaking – implementing a high school curriculum. We will be offering Ninth Grade beginning in the 2014/15 school year. Tenth Grade will follow in the 15/16 year, and so on until Twelfth Grade is made available in 2017.

This new program will meet the high standard of excellence that parents, educators and students from every state and over 100 countries have come to expect from the Calvert curriculum. As we explore and author the high school content, we will be looking toward creating Advanced Placement courses that will be accepted for college credit.

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