Curriculum Overview

The Orchard Friends School curriculum is aligned with New Jersey Core Content Standards. We utilize a wide array of texts, materials, software, technology and teaching strategies for instructional purposes. OFS also uses diverse multisensory techniques as determined by the needs of each individual student.

All students receive instruction in Literacy, Math, Social Studies, Science/Science Activities, Computers, Art, Health and Physical Education.

Literacy/Reading and Language Arts
In teaching Literacy, we group students at their instructional level within age restrictions as defined by the State of New Jersey. We utilize the following programs in our Language/Literacy curriculum:

- Orton-Gillingham

– Lindamood-Bell
–Visualizing and Verbalizing
- Novel Based Reading
– Scott, Forseman Reading

- Edmark Reading

- Earobics

- Just Writing

Literature is a cornerstone of our Reading Program. As a result, the students sample a wide range of literary selections and styles.

The curriculum has included:

Aesop’s fables; poetry; fairy tales.
Greek, Roman and Norse mythology; Wind in the Willows; Little House in the Big Woods; Treasure Island; Pollyanna.
Don Quixote; Shakespeare; The Secret Garden; Life of Frederick Douglass; Little Women, Native American myths.

Another unique feature of the OFS Language program is our “Idiom of the Week.” Idiomatic and figurative language can be very challenging for our students, so we provide direct instruction in this area. Idioms are chosen by the faculty and are shared with parents via our school calendar and weekly newsletter so the concept can be reinforced at home.

Math
In teaching math, we group students according to their instructional level within age restrictions as defined by the State of New Jersey.

We use a multi-sensory approach to math and utilize the following materials:

– Pace Maker Pre-Algebra
– Steck Vaughn Algebra
– Mastering Math

- Geosketch software

- Mathpad Plus software

Social Studies
In Social Studies, students are grouped by grade level. The Curriculum proceeds as follows:

Families
People and Places
Communities
New Jersey history, geography, etc.
World History
US History
World Geography
American Government

Science
In Science, students are grouped by grade level. The Curriculum includes the study of Earth Science, Physical Science and Life Science. Within each grade level, the topics covered are as follows:

Grades 1-3: Habitats; food chains; volcanoes; geysers; planets; atoms; the human body.

Grades 4-6: Classification of animals; ecology; sound; light; the nervous system; chemistry; dissection.

Grades 7-8: Living things; cell structure; life cycles; reproduction; plant structure; geology.

Grades 9-10: Environmental Science

In addition, our very popular Adventure Friday program affords the opportunity for students to explore topics in a hands-on, experiential manner.

PE/Recess
We view PE/recess as an essential part of every student’s day. To that end, we facilitate every student's meaningful participation during this period. The instructors present a choice of games to be played and the students select one game for the group. The instructors then explain the rules and procedures of the game, as well as the language needed to play. This may involve breaking down the skills and steps involved in the game such as kicking the soccer ball or blocking a goal. This approach ensures that all students understand the game and can participate fully. It also enables the students to learn the games in a way that is accessible and comfortable; these experiences then enable students to participate in similar games in other settings.