The elementary grades are a significant time of learning development for your child. In the earliest grades, a key focus is learning to read so that by the end of third grade, reading skills are so well-developed that students can use reading to learn and analyze new information. In mathematics and science, students begin a process of seeing and understanding patterns in the world around them. They begin to understand how numbers work and can be applied to answer questions and solve problems. Not only do they solve math problems, but more importantly, they learn how math is applied in everyday life. We hope you find the resources on this site that will help you help your child be successful in these important foundational grades.

Growth Mindset

Have you heard about a movement called the Growth Mindset? Research completed by Dr. Carol Dweck states that the way our students think impacts their attitude toward learning and how they perform in our classrooms. As parents, you can help your child develop a Growth Mindset, in which they believe they can improve their knowledge and skills.

One of the key concepts of the growth mindset research is that children should be praised for effort instead of ability. The research shows that these students:

• ask for new challenging tasks and persevere in solving them.

• view challenges as a way of learning, and embrace them.
  

A great introduction to the growth mindset vs. fixed mindset is the Youtube video “The Power of Belief – Mindset and Success” by Eduardo Brinceno.

Florida Academic Standards

Florida’s standards are the academic content objectives that describe what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. Consistent, rigorous standards are important to ensure all students are on a path to college and career readiness, and to ensure common outcomes and expectation between districts, especially for students who may move within the state. Standards are the what of learning. Local school districts are responsible for the how by choosing curriculum, textbooks and instructional methods.

All Florida students deserve to graduate from high school with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college, careers and life. Florida’s standards are designed to ensure that ALL students reach their greatest potential—whatever their path may be. They will help our students reach their fullest potential by promoting a deeper level of critical thinking and problem solving that is necessary to be competitive in today’s job market.

A student tutorial for English language arts, mathematics, science, and Civics is available at http://www.floridastudents.org/.