CIRRICulum
Welcome to the Office of Curriculum and Instruction
At ALCS our priority is to support our educators in ensuring that our students are engaged in meaningful and challenging learning experiences in 6th through 12th grade while aligning to the NY State Learning Standards. Effective teaching depends on challenging curriculum, data-driven instruction, and assessment.
At ALCS our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of every student through differentiated instructional strategies. Through a variety of instructional approaches, ALH addresses differences in students’ prior knowledge, personal interests and relative strengths and weaknesses in various subjects, to provide special education and academic support services and best practices in pedagogy. We also provide targeted instructional support in key skill areas, such as the Math and Writing Foundation classes.
New York State requires that we formally assess our students in Regents examinations the High School. Additionally, we administer assessments to secure information about student progress, as well as to provide direction for instruction. Advanced Placement tests are taken by students who participate in AP courses, and most students take either the SAT or ACT (or both) as part of the college application process. In addition to these assessments, we also assess student progress regularly as part of routine instructional practices.
We are committed to continually developing our practice to best reach and successfully teach every student. You are invited to participate in your child’s education; to get involved in our school programs and to continue to support learning at home.
Crystal Martin
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls
Academics at Albany Leadership
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Humanities: English Language Arts
Using diverse novels, our students explore and interpret compelling literary works of all kind through discussions, debates, and written responses.
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Humanities: Social Studies
Our students generate understanding through the investigation of ideas and movements that continue to shape our world.
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STEM: Math
Using the enVisions curriculum to build on understanding, students gain a deeper understanding of concepts and critical thinking resulting in them being confident problem solvers in our mathematics program
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STEM: Science
Middle school students build on the knowledge learned in primary school using focuses such as life and physical sciences to prepare them for high school.
Building on the technical skills that are formed in middle school, our high school students develop deeper understanding of biology, chemistry, earth science, and space science using interactive learning to foster their curiosity and discovery.
The Whole Child
Scholars become more self-aware while navigating positive relationships and social conflict. Specialists support the development and implementation of emotional wellness initiatives school-wide, in small groups, and through one-on-one instruction. Social-emotional learning is a key piece of the whole child curriculum. Our curriculum follows the New York State Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks which is aligned with the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) benchmarks.
AVID
AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination
AVID is a college readiness program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in college. Our AVID program places special emphasis on WICOR: writing, inquiry/critical thinking, teamwork/collaboration, organization and reading skills.
Our nation’s schools are full of students who possess a desire to go to college and the willingness to work hard, but many of them do not truly have the opportunity to be college-ready. These are often the students who will be the first in their families to attend college and are from groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education. AVID Secondary equips teachers and schools with what they need to help these students succeed on a path to college and career success.
To address this need, AVID has developed the AVID Elective course. For one period a day, students receive the additional academic, social, and emotional support that will help them succeed in their school’s most rigorous courses.
The power of AVID Secondary is the ability to impact students in the AVID Elective class and all students throughout the campus.
