How is a Rigorous Curriculum defined at Lighthouse?

• Learn in depth, rather than breadth
• Are engaged in inquiry and problem-solving
• Learn in authentic contexts, providing a real world connection and purpose for learning
• Are provided with specific strategy instruction in the development of new skills and concepts
• Receive frequent formative assessment, as well as summative assessment

Learning Investigations & Expeditions

The primary vehicle for science and social studies content is through the learning investigation and/or expedition. In addition, learning targets related to literacy, character development, and craftsmanship are embedded in the investigation and/or expedition. Learning investigations and/or expeditions are designed around a compelling topic, framed with guiding questions, and use a variety of inquiry-based approaches to develop students’ mastery of the grade level learning targets.

Literacy

We believe our primary task is to develop each and every student’s ability to be an independent reader and writer.  We use a balanced literacy approach, with instruction occurring both in and outside of the learning expedition. Reading and writing is infused within the learning expedition and across the content areas, enabling students to make meaning through purposeful reading connected to their expedition and write with a specific purpose, topic, and audience. In addition, reading and writing may be developed outside of the learning expedition. This reading and writing instruction enables guided reading instruction across a variety of reading levels, differentiated reading intervention, and the development of independent, life-long readers. It is our belief that this type of literacy instruction best enables us to meet the needs of all learners.

Numeracy

At Lighthouse mathematics is taught in an inquiry-based manner, balancing the development of mathematical skills with the ability to apply these skills in context. Content and skills are taught not once, but spiraled so that students have multiple opportunities to develop, expand, and revisit key concepts. In addition, we believe that as mathematicians, students must be able to problem-solve and communicate their mathematical thinking. Math is most often taught during a specific math time as opposed to being heavily integrated into each and every expedition. Math is integrated into expeditions where appropriate (e.g. data analysis) to insure that students always connect mathematics to a genuine real world application.

The Arts

At Lighthouse, we believe that the arts are essential to achieving our mission and providing an equitable learning experience for our students. The arts are heavily integrated into our expeditions, as well as taught in isolation to develop critical concepts and skills.

Fitness and Wellness

At Lighthouse we believe that the whole child must be developed to achieve our mission of college or a career of choice.  Therefore, Lighthouse students will be expected to improve their physical fitness and make informed choices about their personal wellness.

What are the identified Core Practices?

Lighthouse has established Core Practices in each of the following content areas to promote a Rigorous Curriculum:

Learning Investigations and Expeditions

• Students are engaged in long term Learning Investigations and/or Expeditions, focused by compelling topics.
• Investigations and/or Expeditions are designed to support students in mastering clearly identified learning targets, which are in alignment with the Lighthouse K-12 Curriculum Map.
• Linked projects and products within the Investigation or Expedition allow students multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery of these learning targets. 
• Fieldwork and experts are utilized to provide an authentic context for learning and promote students ability to think as experts within a discipline
• Investigations and/or Expeditions culminate with products that have a real purpose and an authentic audience (e.g. an art gallery presentation of student art).

Literacy

• Balanced literacy, including readers and writers workshops, is utilized as the core framework for literacy instruction. In the K-6 program, the Arkansas Model is used to guide the structure, practices, and frequency of literacy instruction.
• The workshop model consists of a mini-lesson, modeling/thinking aloud, guided practice/shared experiences, independent practice, and sharing.
• In reading, strategy instruction develops students’ phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension. In reading comprehension specifically, strategy instruction develops the skills of making connections, questioning, visualizing, inferring, determining importance, and synthesizing.
• In writing, strategy instruction develops the following areas of student writing: ideas, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice, and conventions.
• Literacy instruction occurs in whole group, small group, and individual settings.
• Reading and writing should be integrated into the expedition and/or across content areas.

Numeracy
In the K-5 program,

• TERC Investigations is utilized as the core curriculum.
• The curriculum is implemented to develop students’ knowledge and skills across each of the mathematical strands: number sense, algebra and equations, measurement and geometry, and data analysis, statistics and probability.
• Mini-lessons and math workshops are used as a way to introduce, develop, and refine understanding of key concepts and skills.

In the 6-10 program,

• College Preparatory Math is utilized as the core curriculum.
• The curriculum is implemented to develop students’ knowledge and skills across each of the mathematical strands: number sense, algebra and equations, measurement and geometry, and data analysis, statistics and probability. Student mastery in each of these strands is regularly assessed.
• The curriculum is implemented to develop students computational fluency, mathematical reasoning and problem-solving, ability to apply problems in context, and mathematical communication (including command of math vocabulary). Student mastery in each of these areas is regularly assessed.
• Mini-lessons and math workshops are used as a way to introduce, develop, and refine understanding of key concepts and skills. The workshop model consists of an introduction, modeling, guided practice, independent practice, and sharing.
• Classes begin with a warm-up and end with an exit ticket, allowing students to practice and then demonstrate mastery of key concepts and skills introduced
• Multiple structures are put in place to differentiate instruction, including mini-lessons for struggling students and “exceeds” options

The Arts

• Mini-lessons and workshops are utilized to introduce and develop students understanding of the language, concepts, skills, and techniques of the art form.
• In depth learning experiences take place, allowing students the opportunity for critique and revision of their work and developing their ability to reason and solve problems in artistic production.
• Art is used as vehicle to both deepen and demonstrate student understanding of content in a learning investigation and/or expedition.
• The arts are used to meet the multiple learning styles of students and allow children to discover and develop aptitudes and talents.

Fitness

• Fitness activities are designed to meet students’ varied physical needs, with multiple points of access and scaffolding so that all students can be full participants. 
• Students will be expected to compete against themselves to achieve growth in core strength, flexibility, agility, and technique.
• Students will be expected to support other students to achieve a collective success, engaging in a wide-range of team sports from field hockey to flag football. 
• Students will have the opportunity to enjoy and develop an appreciation for the outdoors, through adventure-based outdoor excursions such as hiking, rock climbing, and boating.

Wellness

• Lighthouse students will develop a varied set of strategies and skills to effectively cope with the stress of their lives and understand how they can maintain their health. Activities may include keeping wellness logs and investigating stress-reducing activities such as Tai Chi and Yoga
• Students will understand the how they influence the health of their body through diet, drugs, and alcohol
• Students will receive sex education