You'll find it in Aldine 2006.indd - Aldine Independent School District

Our Curriculum16Aldine’s curriculum provides a framework forall instruction that takes place within its classrooms.We believe that it is important for alladministrators, teachers, students, and parentsto have an understanding of what eachstudent is expected to learn at specific intervalsduring their academic career in Aldine.Therefore, the curricular program directorsand classroom teachers have collaborated toproduce the Aldine Benchmark Targets.These Benchmark Targets document specificskills that our students must acquire ateach grade level. The specific skills taughtare derived from the state curriculum, theTexas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).The TEKS document broader learning standardsfor Texas students while the AldineBenchmark Targets focus on individual skillsneeded to master these learning standards.Language ArtsLanguage Arts is a balanced program containinglistening, speaking, reading, writing,and visual representations for grades prekindergartenthrough grade 12. Oral languagedevelopment is a major focus in the primarygrades. A balance of literacy activities andinstruction at appropriate developmental levelsprovide a variety of opportunities forgrowth in reading and writing processes. Asstudents progress they are offered more challengingopportunities in reading and writingfor real-life situations through an abundanceof models and genres of literature.Foreign LanguageForeign Language is a K-12 program whichoffers the languages of Spanish, French,German, and Latin. Current K-4 programs areavailable in French, German, and Spanish. Atthe high school level, five or more levels ofeach language are offered. Students may earnup to 14 hours of college credit in dual creditcourses or by receiving an acceptable score onthe College Board Advanced Placement Tests.MathematicsThe mathematics program is designed toprepare students to be productive citizens ina fast-changing world. A full range of courseofferings in mathematics, from Kindergartenthrough Advanced Placement Calculus, areavailable to every student in the district. Tofacilitate a student’s progress, every elementaryand intermediate campus offers advancedand gifted and talented classes in mathematicsthat allow both enrichment and accelerationbeyond grade-level expectations.ScienceThe elementary and secondary scienceprogram consists of an in-depth study ofsystems; properties, patterns, and models;constancy and change; and form and functionthrough scientific principles. Secondaryscience students may earn college credit indual credit courses or by receiving an acceptablescore on the College Board AdvancedPlacement Tests. In addition to an extensiveacademic program, students have opportunitiesfor campus, district, state, national, andinternational science competitions.Social StudiesThe PK-12 social studies program builds afoundation in history, geography, economics,government, citizenship, culture, science technology,and social studies skills. These conceptsenable students to understand the importanceof patriotism, function in a free enterprise society,and appreciate the basic democratic valuesof our state and nation.Bilingual / ESL EducationAldine ISD offers a transitional bilingual educationprogram from pre-kindergarten to thefourth grade. Students are instructed first inSpanish and once skills are learned, the skillsare transferred to the English language.With our model, students will gradually go from80% Spanish, 20% English instruction in prekindergartento 50% Spanish and 50% Englishmodel in third grade. Our English as a SecondLanguage (ESL) program is from pre-kindergartento twelfth grade. In this program, studentsreceive 100% of their instruction in English. ESLteachers provide modifications and work firstwith students on their oral and listening skillsand then move to reading and writing skills. ESLis typically an inclusion model.A unique class that is offered in Aldine is ourEnglish Language Institute (ELI). This programruns from the seventh grade to twelfth gradeand the ESL teachers work with studentsfor one year in intensive English acquisition.Students are first learning oral English and listeningskills, then concentrate on reading andwriting skills. Students are in these classesfrom three to five hours daily.Special EducationThe special education program in the AldineIndependent School District currently servesmore than 5,600 students who are identifiedwith various disabilities such as autism,visual and/or hearing impairments, mentalretardation, multiple disabilities, physical disability,emotional disturbance, learning disability,speech impairment, and traumaticbrain injury. Students are eligible to receiveservices if they have been determined by anadmission, review and dismissal (ARD) committeeto have one or more of the aforemen-