English Language Arts:
With the Journeys Common Core ELA curriculum by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, our KG-5th grade “readers are empowered by skill mastery; inspired by authentic, award-winning text; and confident that they are building the skills needed for college and careers. Backed by proven results, Journeys is the most widely-used reading program in the country. Journeys is a research-based, comprehensive English Language Arts program designed to provide solid instruction that is clear and focused with realistic pacing and manageable resources” (www.hmhco.com). Journeys Common Core is aligned with the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.
UAP’s middle school students are using myPerspectives, which “is a brand new English language arts curriculum for Grades 6–12 that values the perspective of the learner, collectively and individually, and provides next-gen learning experiences that promote higher achievement and develop the competencies needed for college and career readiness. Interactive learning blends print and technology in a student-centered, teacher-inspired classroom. This dynamic Pearson program creates an interactive, engaging, and relevant learning environment through readings, meaningful activities, and purposeful performance tasks. myPerspectives encourages social collaboration as well as student ownership of learning through goal setting, choice, and reflection. Cultivate students’ voices and perspectives. Open a world of ideas using literary and informational texts to prepare students for college and careers. Open Minds” (www.pearsonschool.com).
As a part of our strong curriculum that puts great emphasis on the skills students will need in their adult lives, UAP teachers go beyond the texts to introduce many projects during the school year, such as book reports and research papers. This process allows students to put the skills they’ve learned into practice, and assists with building a strong connection between the classroom and the real world.
Every year, UAP also holds both Classroom and School Spelling Bees, where students compete for the honor of representing their school at the Area Spelling Bee, and potentially going to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Mathematics:
UAP students use enVisionMATH Common Core at the elementary level, which is especially designed to provide comprehensive coverage of the Common Core Standards. This program focuses on not only procedural fluency, but also the deep conceptual understanding of mathematics; in other words, students don’t simply learn HOW to do math, but they also learn the WHY behind it.
Middle school students use enVisionMATH2.0 Common Core. “enVisionmath2.0 Common Core is a comprehensive mathematics curriculum for Grades 6–8. It builds on the proven effectiveness of the enVision series, supporting coherent, focused, and rigorous mathematics. enVisionmath2.0 addresses the Common Core State Standards through problem solving, interactive experiences, and visual learning. Personalized math practice, built-in interventions, and customizable content deepen understanding and improve achievement” (www.pearsonschool.com).
Students participate in inquiry-based learning and higher-order thinking on a daily basis, starting with a Problem of the Day that jumpstarts the lesson. Teachers encourage their pupils to gain a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts by means of authentic assessments such as the use of manipulatives to visualize multiplication or fractions, and the completion of math projects to show mastery of the skills being taught.
Science:
At UAP, students use Interactive Science by Pearson, which allows them to interact with the world around them. This program allows students to write directly in their textbooks, which “makes learning personal, relevant, and engaging… Interactive Science is a K-8 science program that provides you with the tools you need to capture students' interest, keep them involved in learning science, and develop an understanding of the world we live in” (www.pearsonschool.com). Both the Elementary curriculum for grades K-5 and the Middle School curriculum include lessons that engage students in science inquiry; STEM activities; and problem-based, hands-on learning. Interactive Science supports Next Generation Science Standards at all levels.
In addition to this inquiry-based program with science experiments built right in, students also take part in UAP’s annual Science Fair. Under the supervision of parents and guidance of teachers, students work through the entire Scientific Method as they research, design, and perform their own science experiments. This project allows our future scientists to explore topics that interest them, rather than only learning about what is included in their textbook. Middle school students have the additional opportunity to participate in the Regional Science Fair at the Carnegie Science Center.
Many of the awards (at the bottom of the page) that UAP students have accumulated over the years are due in large part to their Science Fair Projects that have moved on to the Regional level.
Social Studies:
“People have always used stories to teach and to remember. Welcome to myWorld Social Studies™ for Grades K-5. Learning comes alive through storytelling, literacy instruction, and flexible resources. Stories from our world engage students and help develop thoughtful, literate citizens. Lessons apply inquiry processes, practice reading and writing, and involve collaboration and communication skills. Blended learning experiences include an interactive Student Worktext and digital courseware. Share the story of our democratic ideals, communities, and people” (www.pearsonschool.com).
Middle school students immerse themselves in the past with myWorld History, also by Pearson: “With innovative online, print, and activity-based resources, all students will go beyond the printed page and actively experience the world as it was and is today.”
Through the interactive learning that both myWorld Social Studies and myWorld History provide, students have access to videos and hands-on activities, making the subject of Social Studies interesting for even the most skeptical learner.
At UAP, Social Studies teachers go beyond the textbook with research projects based on specific people, places, advances, and events throughout history. Past student activities have included Country, Region, and Explorer Research Projects; State-in-a-Can; creating timelines of their own lives; and building 3-D models of objects from the past. This technique allows students to dive into what interests them, and reinforces the idea that wise people pay attention to the past, in order to benefit their community in the future.
Interventions:
Each teacher at UAP performs his/her own self-contained interventions, depending on the situation. This may include providing adaptations or accommodations for students who have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) from their home school district, or utilizing methods such as “chunking” that allow students to complete assignments at their own pace without feeling overwhelmed. Many teachers also incorporate the use of individual or group “centers” within the classroom to facilitate independence in younger students who have mastered concepts, while providing the teacher with the ability to work one-on-one with struggling students. Another strategy might be to pair up students in a mentor-mentee partnership, to allow for students to help one another; this allows for student-led instruction, where the teacher may take the role of coach, rather than teacher-led instruction where students are lectured about a topic.
In addition to in-class interventions, UAP has its own ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher who works with students in a one-on-one or small group setting. Pulling ESL students out of the classroom for additional instruction in ELA skills and concepts allows students to develop their language away from the prying eyes of their peers. ESL students can feel free to make mistakes without comparing themselves to others, because that’s when learning takes place. As students show mastery of the English language, they may be tested out of the program, and then become eligible for other services at UAP.
For students who are below-level but are not ESL learners, UAP offers a program from the AIU (Allegheny Intermediate Unit). “The mission of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Non-Public Schools Program (Act 89) is to provide effective and efficient support services for non-public school students and their families to maximize their potential in an ever changing society” (www.aiu3.net). Students may receive remedial services in ELA and/or Math, during which they are pulled out of the classroom to work one-on-one or in small groups with the Instructor. This service allows students to have more individualized instruction and practice on concepts that they have not yet mastered. Students may also test out of this program when they show a mastery of skills through assessments.
Below are some of the scholarships and awards that UAP students have accumulated over the years outside of the classroom setting:
With the Journeys Common Core ELA curriculum by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, our KG-5th grade “readers are empowered by skill mastery; inspired by authentic, award-winning text; and confident that they are building the skills needed for college and careers. Backed by proven results, Journeys is the most widely-used reading program in the country. Journeys is a research-based, comprehensive English Language Arts program designed to provide solid instruction that is clear and focused with realistic pacing and manageable resources” (www.hmhco.com). Journeys Common Core is aligned with the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts.
UAP’s middle school students are using myPerspectives, which “is a brand new English language arts curriculum for Grades 6–12 that values the perspective of the learner, collectively and individually, and provides next-gen learning experiences that promote higher achievement and develop the competencies needed for college and career readiness. Interactive learning blends print and technology in a student-centered, teacher-inspired classroom. This dynamic Pearson program creates an interactive, engaging, and relevant learning environment through readings, meaningful activities, and purposeful performance tasks. myPerspectives encourages social collaboration as well as student ownership of learning through goal setting, choice, and reflection. Cultivate students’ voices and perspectives. Open a world of ideas using literary and informational texts to prepare students for college and careers. Open Minds” (www.pearsonschool.com).
As a part of our strong curriculum that puts great emphasis on the skills students will need in their adult lives, UAP teachers go beyond the texts to introduce many projects during the school year, such as book reports and research papers. This process allows students to put the skills they’ve learned into practice, and assists with building a strong connection between the classroom and the real world.
Every year, UAP also holds both Classroom and School Spelling Bees, where students compete for the honor of representing their school at the Area Spelling Bee, and potentially going to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.
Mathematics:
UAP students use enVisionMATH Common Core at the elementary level, which is especially designed to provide comprehensive coverage of the Common Core Standards. This program focuses on not only procedural fluency, but also the deep conceptual understanding of mathematics; in other words, students don’t simply learn HOW to do math, but they also learn the WHY behind it.
Middle school students use enVisionMATH2.0 Common Core. “enVisionmath2.0 Common Core is a comprehensive mathematics curriculum for Grades 6–8. It builds on the proven effectiveness of the enVision series, supporting coherent, focused, and rigorous mathematics. enVisionmath2.0 addresses the Common Core State Standards through problem solving, interactive experiences, and visual learning. Personalized math practice, built-in interventions, and customizable content deepen understanding and improve achievement” (www.pearsonschool.com).
Students participate in inquiry-based learning and higher-order thinking on a daily basis, starting with a Problem of the Day that jumpstarts the lesson. Teachers encourage their pupils to gain a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts by means of authentic assessments such as the use of manipulatives to visualize multiplication or fractions, and the completion of math projects to show mastery of the skills being taught.
Science:
At UAP, students use Interactive Science by Pearson, which allows them to interact with the world around them. This program allows students to write directly in their textbooks, which “makes learning personal, relevant, and engaging… Interactive Science is a K-8 science program that provides you with the tools you need to capture students' interest, keep them involved in learning science, and develop an understanding of the world we live in” (www.pearsonschool.com). Both the Elementary curriculum for grades K-5 and the Middle School curriculum include lessons that engage students in science inquiry; STEM activities; and problem-based, hands-on learning. Interactive Science supports Next Generation Science Standards at all levels.
In addition to this inquiry-based program with science experiments built right in, students also take part in UAP’s annual Science Fair. Under the supervision of parents and guidance of teachers, students work through the entire Scientific Method as they research, design, and perform their own science experiments. This project allows our future scientists to explore topics that interest them, rather than only learning about what is included in their textbook. Middle school students have the additional opportunity to participate in the Regional Science Fair at the Carnegie Science Center.
Many of the awards (at the bottom of the page) that UAP students have accumulated over the years are due in large part to their Science Fair Projects that have moved on to the Regional level.
Social Studies:
“People have always used stories to teach and to remember. Welcome to myWorld Social Studies™ for Grades K-5. Learning comes alive through storytelling, literacy instruction, and flexible resources. Stories from our world engage students and help develop thoughtful, literate citizens. Lessons apply inquiry processes, practice reading and writing, and involve collaboration and communication skills. Blended learning experiences include an interactive Student Worktext and digital courseware. Share the story of our democratic ideals, communities, and people” (www.pearsonschool.com).
Middle school students immerse themselves in the past with myWorld History, also by Pearson: “With innovative online, print, and activity-based resources, all students will go beyond the printed page and actively experience the world as it was and is today.”
Through the interactive learning that both myWorld Social Studies and myWorld History provide, students have access to videos and hands-on activities, making the subject of Social Studies interesting for even the most skeptical learner.
At UAP, Social Studies teachers go beyond the textbook with research projects based on specific people, places, advances, and events throughout history. Past student activities have included Country, Region, and Explorer Research Projects; State-in-a-Can; creating timelines of their own lives; and building 3-D models of objects from the past. This technique allows students to dive into what interests them, and reinforces the idea that wise people pay attention to the past, in order to benefit their community in the future.
Interventions:
Each teacher at UAP performs his/her own self-contained interventions, depending on the situation. This may include providing adaptations or accommodations for students who have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) from their home school district, or utilizing methods such as “chunking” that allow students to complete assignments at their own pace without feeling overwhelmed. Many teachers also incorporate the use of individual or group “centers” within the classroom to facilitate independence in younger students who have mastered concepts, while providing the teacher with the ability to work one-on-one with struggling students. Another strategy might be to pair up students in a mentor-mentee partnership, to allow for students to help one another; this allows for student-led instruction, where the teacher may take the role of coach, rather than teacher-led instruction where students are lectured about a topic.
In addition to in-class interventions, UAP has its own ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher who works with students in a one-on-one or small group setting. Pulling ESL students out of the classroom for additional instruction in ELA skills and concepts allows students to develop their language away from the prying eyes of their peers. ESL students can feel free to make mistakes without comparing themselves to others, because that’s when learning takes place. As students show mastery of the English language, they may be tested out of the program, and then become eligible for other services at UAP.
For students who are below-level but are not ESL learners, UAP offers a program from the AIU (Allegheny Intermediate Unit). “The mission of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Non-Public Schools Program (Act 89) is to provide effective and efficient support services for non-public school students and their families to maximize their potential in an ever changing society” (www.aiu3.net). Students may receive remedial services in ELA and/or Math, during which they are pulled out of the classroom to work one-on-one or in small groups with the Instructor. This service allows students to have more individualized instruction and practice on concepts that they have not yet mastered. Students may also test out of this program when they show a mastery of skills through assessments.
Below are some of the scholarships and awards that UAP students have accumulated over the years outside of the classroom setting:
- Carnegie Science Center Award
- Shell Oil Sponsor Awards
- Valspar Sponsor Awards
- University of Pittsburgh Scholarship
- Chatham University Scholarship
- North Western University Scholarship
- National Merit Scholarship
- Wesleyan University Scholarship
We are Social |
Contact Us |
Our LocationUniversal Academy of Pittsburgh
2103 Hampton Street Pittsburgh PA 15218 |