Our passionate teachers create an engaging educational experience. Building on Kennett Consolidated School District curriculum guidelines, our teachers ensure students are prepared for middle school as well as state standards. Our faculty and staff meet regularly to evaluate student performance, adjusting teaching methods to best suit the changing needs of our students. From those requiring extra support to gifted students needing challenge, individuals are instructed according to their needs. All students benefit from computer instruction beginning in kindergarten. The summaries below provide an overview to our programs.

Language Arts
We believe that reading and writing are essential skills which provide the building blocks for enrichment and discovery later in education and in life. At Mary D. Lang all students participate in 2 hours of daily literacy instruction. Literacy coaches collaborate with teachers to assess students, gather resources and offer instructional support. In addition, dedicated instructional assistants offer one-on-one and small group support to students. Together, the literacy coaches, instructional assistants and classroom teachers work as a team to enable all students to reach their potential as readers and as writers.

From kindergarten through third grade, students benefit from our Balanced Literacy Program which addresses the five components of effective reading instruction: phonetic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Beginning in first grade, students supplement their reading curriculum with Read Naturally, an innovative fluency software program, administered by an adult. Students benefit from further repetition, customized lessons and practice using a laptop.

From third through fifth grade, students continue to strengthen their literacy skills with challenging reading combined with composition skills. Our writing program includes descriptive, narrative, essay, and persuasive writing skills. Our fifth grade students graduate to Middle School with a solid literacy foundation and are ready to succeed.

Students learning English as a Second Language (ESL) receive additional separate instruction by an ESL instructor, ensuring that students of all abilities are instructed appropriately.

Math
Our Math Program layers math facts with logical reasoning and hands-on manipulatives. From kindergarten through second grade, students build a foundation understanding the number system and operations, including addition and subtraction and early measurements. From third grade through fifth grade student learn multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, geometry, data and basic statistics, measurement and probability. Students move beyond rote learning to become problem solvers and critical thinkers, ready and prepared for Middle School.

Science
Our hands-on science curriculum concentrates on problem solving. During science class our students use scientific inquiry to better understand how things work and to solve problems. Our young scientists use the scientific method to observe and use critical thinking skills. LabLearner units of study provide the framework for science instruction:

Grade 1: Five Senses, Solids & Liquids, Weather
Grade 2: Sound, Weight & Balance, Rocks & Soil
Grade 3: Electricity, Wetlands & Water Cycle, Solar System
Grade 4: Chemistry: Matter & Interactions, Energy, Ecosystems & Adaptations, Human Body
Grade 5: Machines & Forces, Light, Heat

Social Studies
The Kennett Consolidated School District (KCSD) has adopted a new Social Studies curriculum. Specific content varies from grade to grade, and can be found on the KCSD district website. There are three unifying themes: Development of Critical Reading Skills, Critical Communications Skills and Critical Thinking Skills.

learn about our Art, Music, and Enrichment Programs

Academic Links
Learn more about our academic content, goals, assessment and resources with the
Kennett Consolidated School District curriculum maps (please scroll to the bottom of the page).

Visit the National Institute For Literacy for reading and writing resources.

Visit the Investigations site for more information on the TERC math program.

Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Learn about Pennsylvania Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards.

Learn more about the No Child Left Behind legislation.