"Where is the esophagus?" “No! The stomach is above the intestines." "A pediatrician is a doctor that takes care of kids, not animals!" These were all sentences that 1st graders shared with classmates on their first ever Doctor Day at Duncan Elementary.
Amplify CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) was introduced this school year as the Language Arts curriculum for UCS students in kindergarten through 5th grade.
“The curriculum is designed to build foundational reading skills and background knowledge simultaneously, with a strong emphasis on phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing,” Executive Director of Elementary Curriculum, Catherine Einhaus, said.
At Duncan Elementary, 1st grade teachers created Doctor Day as a way to bring to life the vocabulary and informational readings from their Amplify CKLA unit “From Nose to Toes: How Your Body Works.”
“Our classroom became a pretend hospital, and our students became young doctors,” 1st grade teacher, Marie Atreo said.
The “doctors” played the game of Operation with a partner, created their own x-ray of their hand by using crayons and oil while reviewing the bones and joints in their fingers, searched for tricky words with a magnifying glass and x-rays, worked together to make a 100 piece human body puzzle, explored the pretend tools doctors use, and finally created a skeleton made of seasonal skeleton shaped Cheetos.
“The real-life application was incredible, and it made learning fun,” said Atreo.
Amplify CKLA is a research-based curriculum that is in its first year of implementation in Utica Community Schools, with key features including:
- Two-Strand Approach:
- Skills Strand: Focuses on phonics, decoding, spelling, grammar, and writing.
- Knowledge Strand: Builds background knowledge in history, science, literature, and the arts through read-alouds and discussions.
- Explicit Phonics Instruction: Systematic and sequential instruction in decoding skills. Helps students become fluent, independent readers.
- Content-Rich Curriculum: Students are introduced to rich academic content early on (e.g., ancient civilizations, astronomy, mythology). Supports vocabulary growth and reading comprehension.
- Read-Alouds and Discussions: Teachers read complex texts aloud to build listening comprehension and expose students to advanced vocabulary.
- Aligned to the Science of Reading: Based on research that shows how children learn to read most effectively.
- Assessment and Differentiation Tools: Regular checks for understanding and tools for small group instruction or intervention.
Fueled by Amplify CKLA, Atreo shared that Doctor Day will be a keeper for the 1st grade staff at Duncan Elementary.
“Days like this where we can let our professional creativity shine and help our students have the learning come to life is important for all!” Atreo said.
