Academics

The Thirty-fifth Street School curriculum is based on the MPS District Learning Targets, which are aligned to Wisconsin State Standards. The staff at Thirty-fifth Street guides students on their paths to becoming independent, self-confident learners with strong skills and good decision-making abilities. Please click on the image below to download the Learning Targets brochures.

Language Arts/Writing
Reading

Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Physical Education

Art
Health
Music

Language Arts/Writing

The language arts/writing curriculum at Thirty-fifth Street enables students to use the English language as a tool for self-expression. The Six Traits of Writing and Writer’s Workshop series, as well as the Power Writing method, are used. All grade levels participate in a monthly writing prompt, which is graded according to the appropriate grade level MPS writing rubric. Thirty-fifth Street’s full-time Literacy Coach models proven instructional methods in the classroom, guiding teachers as they motivate students to tackle new writing challenges and projects.

Kindergarten through grade 8 teachers are trained to implement the Six Traits of Writing curriculum. This curriculum reveals characteristics of good writing to students while helping them pinpoint areas of strength and weakness. Writer’s Workshop is also used in the elementary grades to help students develop their writing skills. This method helps learners build fluency through repeated exposure to the writing process. Thirty-fifth Street students are also introduced to the Power Writing method, which offers a numbered structure that students can approach logically. Power Writing emphasizes organizational thinking. Thirty-fifth Street also utilizes My Access, a computer program that assists students with revising and editing their writing.

Thirty-fifth Street early elementary learners expand their vocabulary, participate in class discussions and apply proper grammar and correct spelling to their writing. As their education advances, students use revision strategies and peer feedback to write reports. They also familiarize themselves with software programs and media techniques as they prepare class presentations. In the middle school grades, students create multimedia projects, use evidence to defend their ideas and judge effective writing and speaking. They also are equipped with the knowledge to make informed judgments about the media and products. By the time they graduate, most students exhibit strong writing skills that prepare them for success in high school.

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Reading

At Thirty-fifth Street, strong reading skills bolster performance in all academic disciplines. The staff recognizes the significant impact that well-developed reading and communication abilities have on a student’s education. A daily schoolwide reading/language arts block is implemented to ensure students are afforded the opportunity to advance their literacy skills.

Thirty-fifth Street’s K3-K4 teachers introduce children to reading using the Doors to Discovery and Language for Learning series. Instruction at an early age equips young learners with vocabulary, concepts and knowledge that will benefit them as they learn to read in a classroom setting. K5 through grade 3 learners use the Harcourt Trophies series, which is scientifically proven to yield positive results. Leveled books, in all academic areas, teach children the value of reading for meaning and to advance academically in all subjects. In addition to the Harcourt Trophies series, Direct Instruction is used as a supplement in kindergarten through grade 4. As students advance to grades 6-8, Thirty-fifth Street’s reading curriculum utilizes the Holt, Rinehart and Winston series as well as trade books to further the development of reading skills. During these middle school years, students explore new themes, read with fluency, accuracy and expression and develop critical opinions about texts. They also read and distinguish between classical and contemporary literature while connecting themes to their own experiences. By the time they graduate, students are able to evaluate material from different sources for accuracy and value. Thirty-fifth Street also implements the Langauge! program, which is designed to assist special education students in grades 3 through 8 in achieving at their appropriate grade level.

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Mathematics

At Thirty-fifth Street, the mathematics curriculum focuses on content knowledge and mathematical communication. Everyday Mathematics and the Glencoe series guide instruction. Special math initiatives are funded through the National Science Foundation grant, the Milwaukee Mathematics Partnership and Title One. Thirty-fifth Street’s Math Teacher Leader surveys staff to identify professional development needs, models lessons in classrooms and conducts staff trainings. A schoolwide 60-minute math block ensures students receive an adequate amount of math instruction each day.

During their early years at Thirty-fifth Street, students practice addition and subtraction while identifying shapes and recognizing patterns. As they progress in their education, children increase their knowledge of geometrical shapes, describe data and use measurement tools. Multiplication and division as well as fractions and decimals guide further lessons. Before entering the middle school grades, students collect and apply mathematical data while estimating, measuring and predicting outcome. Middle school level mathematical instruction garners discussions on area and perimeter, the use of graphs to solve equations and the ability to reason and draw conclusions. As they approach graduation, students explore all strands of mathematics while justifying their strategies and using the appropriate mathematical terms and vocabulary as they prepare for higher level mathematics in high school.

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Science

The science curriculum at Thirty-fifth Street provides exemplary instruction through hands-on scientific investigations and in-depth concepts taught using scientific methods and vocabulary. The Harcourt Science series is used to guide instruction, affording students the opportunity to participate in exciting learning activities.

During the elementary years, students explore and discover the world around them while developing an appreciation for nature. They also discuss careers in science, the life cycles of living things and the impact of technology on the world. Scientific exploration leads to a deeper understanding of scientific principles and the world as students transition to higher level learning. Learners construct sketches and models to explain ideas and concepts, interpret what they observe and investigate a variety of scientific topics, such as sound, changes in the environment and electricity. During the middle school grades, students record their own scientific discoveries using models, graphs, maps and charts as well as discuss important scientific events throughout history. As they learn about more profound topics, such as ecosystems, motion, chemical reactions and functions of the human body, students learn to pose questions and predict results.

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Social Studies

The social studies curriculum at Thirty-fifth Street includes five areas of study: Geography, History, Civics, Economics and Behavioral Sciences. The Social Studies Alive! series guides the curriculum.

Thirty-fifth Street’s youngest learners begin their journey in social studies by exploring their role as members of a diverse world. Elementary-aged students are introduced to maps and globes, family cultures and traditions and rights and responsibilities. Learners also explain similarities and differences among different cultures and groups of people. As they advance and begin to identify with the idea of citizenship, children learn about the larger world and connect it to their lives in Milwaukee. States and regions are discussed, with an emphasis on Wisconsin, before students begin to study the United States in greater depth. As they examine our nation’s history, students learn about the U.S. government, a market economy and various social issues. They also discuss ancient and medieval civilizations in comparison to the modern world.

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Physical Education
Guided by the Harcourt Health series, the overall goal of Physical Education (P.E.) instruction at Thirty-fifth Street is to develop awareness of the importance of physical fitness. Thirty-fifth Street offers state-of-the-art fitness equipment as well as academic activities that focus on fitness.

In their early years, Thirty-fifth Street’s littlest learners practice basic movements together and follow directions. Elementary-aged students begin playing physical games together as they learn about cooperation and sportsmanship. They are also encouraged to stretch themselves and meet new physical challenges while they demonstrate different types of exercise including warm-ups, cool-downs, strengthening and aerobic. As they advance into higher grades, students learn how their bodies work and develop their individual abilities to assess and monitor their own physical activity. Students are encouraged to participate in physical fitness activities outside of school as they develop a lifelong interest in both individual and team sports. By the time they graduate, students demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior while exhibiting an understanding of healthy physical activity and nutrition.

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Art
Art education is as essential to the basic education of all children as reading, writing and mathematics. As an area of study, art education focuses on how things are presented visually, knowing what makes beautiful art and solving problems creatively. Young students at Thirty-fifth Street begin art instruction by creating their own artwork. As they grow as learners, they identify the work of famous artists and practice with different artistic materials and tools. Students analyze how mood is created as well as how art is affected by color. Eventually, learners are able to distinguish between different types of art and are introduced to perspective, enabling them to analyze unique ways in which art is created and viewed. Middle school art instruction examines art from different cultures, the role art plays in society and computer-generated art, helping students connect art with technology.

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Health

The Harcourt Health series is used to guide health instruction at Thirty-fifth Street. With a strong focus on the importance of health, Thirty-fifth Street offers professional development and academic activities that focus on fitness and nutrition.

In their early years, students discover the basics of caring for themselves as they describe the importance of eating healthy foods and learn about safety. Learners also discuss how diseases can be passed from one person to the next. As they advance to higher elementary grade levels, children examine messages the community gives and receives about health, focus on the reproductive system and establish a connection between health and personal habits. Middle school health education involves discussions about healthy relationships and self-respect, community responsibilities, health issues that may be encountered in high school and alternative solutions to these issues.

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Music
Children begin their musical education at Thirty-Fifth Street at an early age as they sing and learn the basics of verse and melody. As they grow, children increase their understanding of music and the arts as they learn to evaluate and appreciate musical performance. Students also practice rhythm, melody and harmony while exploring different instruments and reading basic music notation. They listen to and identify different musical styles and are introduced to instrumental ensembles.

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