Elementary Curriculum Information

ELA-Amplify CKLA

Amplify CKLA is a unique core curriculum for grades PreK–5 ELA that’s grounded in the Science of Reading and combines rich, diverse content knowledge in history, science, literature, and the arts with systematic research-based foundational skills instruction. 

Using a fundamentally different approach to language arts, Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts® (CKLA) is built on decades of early literacy research that demonstrates the importance of wide-ranging background knowledge and explicit and systematic instruction in foundational skills. Multisensory phonics and foundational skills resources help students practice key skills using fun, varied approaches that build independence. At the same time, an intentional approach to background knowledge invites students to dig deeper and make connections across content areas through reading and writing. Amplify CKLA enables students to build a robust knowledge base for accessing and unpacking complex texts so real comprehension can happen.

Teacher-administered assessment is a hallmark of the CKLA curriculum.  Ample formative assessment opportunities, through engaging activities, are a part of daily instruction.  Unit assessments, heavily grounded in listening comprehension in grades K-2, monitor students’ progress in building vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension, grammar, mechanics, and more.

In addition, IRSD elementary settings use mCLASS to provide benchmark literacy assessments and ongoing progress monitoring to comprehensively support each student’s literacy development in the following areas:

• Foundational skills

• Comprehension

• Dyslexia screening

mCLASS’ ecosystem of elementary reading resources works to target skill gaps and provide the right instruction at the right time.  mCLASS is powered by DIBELS 8th Edition and provides instant targeted instructional recommendations. DIBELS 8th Edition measures:

• Phonemic awareness

• Phonics

• Fluency

• Vocabulary

• Comprehension

Science- Amplify

Amplify Science was developed by the science education experts at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science and the digital learning team at Amplify. 

Rooted in the Lawrence Hall of Science’s Do, Talk, Read, Write, Visualize model of learning, this research-based approach presents students with multiple modalities through which to explore the Next Generation Science Standards curriculum.  Amplify Science includes hands-on activities, print materials, and powerful digital tools. 

Each unit of Amplify Science engages students in a relevant, real-world problem where they take on the role of a scientist or engineer to investigate scientific phenomena, engage in collaboration and discussion, and develop models or explanations in order to arrive at solutions.

Grade-level Units of study:

Kindergarten:

• Unit 1-Needs of Plants
• Unit 2-Pushes and Pulls
• Unit 3-Sunlight and Weather

First Grade:

• Unit 1-Animal and Plant Defenses
• Unit 2-Light and Sound
• Unit 3-Spinning Earth

Second Grade:

• Unit 1-Plant and ANimal Relationships
• Unit 2-Properties of Materials
• Unit 3-Changing Landforms

Third Grade:

• Unit 1-Balancing Forces
• Unit 2-Inheritance and Traits
• Unit 3-Environments and Survival
• Unit 4-Weather and Climate

Fourth Grade:

• Unit 1-Energy Conversions
• Unit 2-Vision and Light
• Unit 3-Earth’s Features
• Unit 4-Waves, Energy, and Information

Fifth Grade:

• Unit 1-Patterns of Earth and Sky
• Unit 2-Modeling Matter
• Unit 3-The Earth System
• Unit 4-Ecosystem Restoration