Rural Community Academy
 

Curriculum
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The word curriculum means “the subjects taught at an educational institution, or the elements taught in a particular subject” (Encarta Dictionary).  What is taught at RCA is what the state of Indiana requires us to teach in math, language arts, science, and social studies, otherwise known as the state standards.  How we teach our students the content and skills is up to us.  We have chosen to use what is called a place-based curriculum to teach the Indiana state academic standards. 

 

“Place” in place-based curriculum is the actual place where we live.  We happen to think that we live in a wonderful place with a neat environment, history, and culture, and we want our kids to learn about it and appreciate it too.  We want them to learn how to live well here, be proud of living in a rural area, and not be embarrassed because some people still think that “country folk” aren’t smart.   The more kids learn about where they come from, the more likely they are to either stay in their communities and keep them going, or if they do move away, they will be better citizens wherever they settle down.    The school campus, the fields, Fast Jack’s, the post office,  Merom Bluff, businesses and other places in Sullivan County, and nearby creeks and the river are just some of the local places that will be used to teach our kids.  Teachers are encouraged to take advantage of local places to teach math, science, and history.   Local places may be the topic of a writing assignment or an art project.  The possibilities are endless!  

 

“Place” also means local community members.  We have many talented and knowledgeable people in our community who have a lot to offer our students.  We have local historians, scientists, artists, quilters, nurses, business people, farmers, world travelers, musicians, and so on who will be asked to come in and help teach our kids.  Students may also be paying some of these folks a visit to interview them or find out more about their profession.   We want and need local community members and parents not only as resources, but also partners in teaching our kids by volunteering at the school and supporting us.    

 

Finally, “place” also means the community itself.  Part of the class work may involve students looking at what our community needs and how they can make it better.   For example, they might collect stories, statistics, and information from the community and then create projects and presentations that will in turn benefit the community. 

 

So, don’t be alarmed if you drive by the school and see a second grade class walking around the front lawn looking up in the trees, the 4th grade class digging and planting native Indiana plants by the garden pond, and the 7th graders packing up their gear to head to a creek to do water quality testing.  Learning is happening.

 

We have given our staff materials and tools to use to be sure that our students have a solid foundation.  We offer basic instruction for primary and intermediate grades supplemented with place-based activities.  We have also equipped our upper grade teachers of 5th-8th with new science, social studies, and language arts materials which allows them the freedom to teach the student where they are ready to learn by incorporating flexible grouping classes.  Some other new additions for teaching our curriculum are:

 

·        Saxon Phonics – This program meets the students' needs concerning teaching sounds and phonemic awareness in grades K-2.  It offers continuity for primary grades to enable students to learn and excel in basic reading and spelling. Assessments allow the teacher to determine a student's reading readiness.

 

·         Accelerated Math and Star Math – From the same company who offers Accelerated Reader, a program which tracks student achievement in reading and rewards incentives for those who excel.  Accelerated Math and Star Math are two computer programs that enable us to test students’ math ability levels and individualize math lessons whether he/she is a lower achieving student or much more advanced.  This math supplements Saxon Math for K-3, and is used more exclusively for 4-8 with Saxon Math as an additional resource for those students.

 

·         Star Early Literacy – A wonderful tool for our K-3 teachers to assess early literacy skills for their students.  Teachers will know within ten minutes of testing a student’s progress in areas such as phonics and reading readiness and will be better able to meet each student’s needs. 

 

·         Spanish – Students and staff members learn the basics of conversational Spanish.  Place-based activities supplement with real-life experiences inside and outside the four walls of the classroom.

 

·         Environmental Programs 

§         Hoosier River Watch – The seventh-graders participate in the Hoosier River Watch program.  Students are involved in testing water quality through analyzing the habitat, chemical, and biological factors of a stream.  Students then share with the community their findings and results.    

§         Wabash Raft Trip—Eighth-graders participate in the Wabash River Raft Trip sponsored by the Sullivan Water and Soil Conservation District.  Students raft down the Wabash river and stop at various locations to learn history and practical knowledge of the waterway and watershed.

§         Recycling – Eighth-graders are in charge of our school-wide recycling program.  This allows us to teach the students good citizenship and stewardship, and the community benefit from recycling because it reduces its taxes!   Other grades also are involved and visit the Sullivan County Recycling Center and contribute to its mission.

 

·         Individualized Classroom Accountability Network (ICAN) – Teachers will be using this system provided by the Indiana Department of Education to plan curriculum and to make sure that Indiana State Standards are being taught.