READING - Our reading program is the HARCOURT READING/LANGUAGE ARTS PROGRAM.  It is a standards based, comprehensive program that provides the materials and support needed to help all students become fluent, lifelong readers.  The program includes a variety of classic and contemporary works, including realistic fiction, folktales, informational nonfiction, biography, autobiography, plays, and poems.  It also provides frequent listening opportunities to develop vocabulary and promote a love of literature.  Harcourt Reading includes a systematic grammar and spelling instruction to develop proficiency in the conventions of writing.  Throughout the year, students are assessed in a variety of ways.  Some assessments used are portfolios, comprehension tests, ongoing informal assessments, and holistic reading

MATH - Our math program is SAXON MATH.  Our students are exposed to a wide variety of mathematics activities throughout the year.  Students learn through hands-on experiences, discussion, and exploration.  The learning is reinforced through ongoing practice.  Each day begins with "The Meeting" which is when students practice a wide variety of everyday skills.  The next part is "The Lesson."  During the lesson, a new concept is presented through discussion and an activity.  Concepts presented are computation, problem-solving strategies, pattern identification, measurement, geometry, money, time, fractions, graphs, and charts.  All of these concepts correlate with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Mathematics.

SCIENCE - The ASSET program embraces the concept that hands-on science is a process.  ASSET is based on the fundamental belief that children learn science most effectively through experimental activities.  Children learn best. furthermore, when the activities are taught in an environment that allows them to actively investigate scientific phenomena using concrete materials.

An inquiry-centered elementary science program, based on hands-on instructional units, will make children curious about their environment.  As they learn about the essence of science by asking questions and working to find answers, they gain respect for evidence.  As they learn important scientific concepts, they develop the ability to critically reflect on the problem-solving method.  A hands-on, inquiry-oriented approach to science education teaches flexibility.  Finally, as students gain a deeper understanding of their world through the scientific process, they acquire greater sensitivity to living things.

ASSET is providing the concrete materials and support to teachers to enable them to guide their elementary students through the same dynamic process scientists use in industry, the scientific method.  Students' successful experiences will shape the way they look at and learn about the world around them for years to come.

Centennial School students use COMPUTER CURRICULUM CORPORATION SOFTWARE that is a knowledge-based interactive multimedia computer course designed to develop and maintain Reading and Mathematics skills.  During each individualized session, students are exposed to a variety of exercises.  All exercises include the use of color illustrations and audio as a basis for highly interactive instruction.  Students receive a mixture of instructional exercises, based on their previous performance on each of the skill objectives included in the course.  The program distributes exercises appropriate to the student's level.

We also offer many, many more programs, such as:  Title I Services, Reading One to One, Phonemic Awareness, Before and After School Tutoring, Flexible Reading Groups, Field Trips, Assemblies, R.I.F. Book Distributions, D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read), Leader Reader Day, T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More), and Beginning With Books.

(back to top)