K-5 Academics & Instruction
FIT Academy believes children must have a healthy foundation in order to achieve academic excellence!
FIT Academy believes that academic achievement requires a rigorous academic experience challenging students beyond their comfort zone. Our curricular focus is to implement research based instructional practices in delivering content rich instruction in all academic areas. Our goal is to accomplish this focus in a coordinated effort supporting interdisciplinary learning and the establishment of foundational knowledge.
In order to provide quality instruction supporting this focus, we will provide professional development for teachers in the following areas:
- Selection of content & curriculum that aligns with state standards
- Paying special attention to the foundations of knowledge
- Teaching literacy across content areas
- Responsive classroom management
- Best practices in differentiated and individual learning
- Effective use of data practices to guide instruction
- Effective and data guided coaching
- Incorporation of healthy habits such as brain breaks
Math Curriculum
In response to our needs assessment as defined by internal benchmarking instruments, teachers’ observations, and state test data, Fit Academy leadership studied student performance on state-specified math content, identified programming gaps, and researched strategies and curricular resources that (1) were appropriately rigorous and (2) targeted areas of student need as revealed by standardized test results. To meet these identified needs, all K-5 teachers received materials from Dimensions Math (by Singapore Math) to support their math instruction with grades 2-5 also using the Guided Math curriculum. Middle school and high school math is guided by a math sequence map aligned with state standards.
Please email our Curriculum Lead Mr. Kalenze with any questions.
English Language Arts
Based on evidence from cognitive science, as well as from schools/districts that have produced strong results in student literacy, Fit Academy’s English Language Arts (ELA) programming is continuously improving to ensure the following:
- Building students’ abilities to successfully decode written language as soon as possible
- Widening and solidifying students’ supplies of background knowledge
- Preparing students to succeed in whichever setting they choose beyond graduation
These broad objectives guide the school’s choices of curricular materials, ongoing professional development, and internal coaching supports.
Grades K-5
FIT Academy adopted the highly acclaimed and rigorous Core Knowledge Curriculum (CKLA) in 2021-22 and the curriculum is now implemented school-wide. CKLA is a detailed outline of recommended content knowledge and skills to be taught in language arts, history and geography, visual arts, music, mathematics, and science from preschool through grade eight. The Sequence complements the general skills and objectives found in the Minnesota state standards.
Please email our Curriculum Lead Mr. Kalenze for additional information.
Read FIT Academy’s Literacy Plan
World Languages
FIT Academy believes that learning other languages is very beneficial to the literacy development of children. For that purpose, we have introduced several world language opportunities in recent years. We currently offer Spanish as a language to all students in grades K-8 and on an elective basis for high school . We offer world languages for several reasons including:
- Children have an especially high capacity to learn new languages at a young age
- Research shows that learning multiple languages improves overall literacy
- Offering several languages supports our goal of embracing the global community
- Exposing students to several world languages early will help them choose a language of focus as they enter secondary school
School Capacity & Class Sizes
Research on class size varies quite a bit and there are a number of factors impacting what might be the optimal class size for a group of learners. However, much of the research discourages classes that are too large or too crowded. There is also much research that indicates that a class that is too small (under 20) does not provide the rich learning environment that a slightly larger group might benefit from. The FIT Academy Board recently lowered our classroom capacities to ensure that all classes meet the definition of small classes! Our new class limits are as follows:
School Capacity / Enrollment Cap for 2024-25:
- Kindergarten through grade 7: Two classes
- Grades 8 – 12: One class per grade
School capacity is established by the school board in cooperation with the fire department.
Class Size Limits:
- Kindergarten: 23
- First Grade: 24
- Grades 2 & 3: 25
- Grades 4-8: 26
- Grades 9-12: 24
School Calendar & Daily Schedule
Our school calendar is very similar to the District 196 calendar.
Our school hours will be as follows:
Daily Schedule
Start Time: 7:45am
End Time: 2:45pm
General K-5 School Schedule:
Morning Meeting: 20 Minutes
English / Language Arts: 90 Minutes
Mathematics: 60 Minutes
Science & Social Studies: 40 minutes (alternating days)
Health & Physical Education: 30-40 minutes (alternating days)
Art: 40 minutes once a week each
Music: 30 minutes twice a week
Recess/Extended Brain Breaks: 30 minutes per day
All-Star Training: 40 minutes per day
World Languages: 30 minutes, twice a week
General 6-8 School Schedule:
English / Language Arts: 50 Minutes
Mathematics: 50 Minutes
Social Studies: 50 Minutes
Science; 50 Minutes
Health & Physical Education: 50 Minutes (alternating days)
World Languages or Art & Music: 50 Minutes
Structured Study Hall: 50 Minutes
Recess/Extended Brain Breaks: 20 Minutes per day
What is All-Star Training?
All-star training is not (as the name may imply) sports related. It is a time dedicated to academic intervention and extension in grades K-5. Through our use of information (data) driven informal assessments, our teacher will identify the needs of each student for review or reinforcement in specific academic areas. Others who show mastery will need additional opportunities to extend the depth of their learning, often referred to as Gifted & Talented. At the elementary level, this will be accomplished through daily All-Star Time where students work individually or in small guided groups in their specific area of focus. Using All-Star Time for this purpose ensures that teachers can stay on schedule during their regular academic blocks. At the Middle School level, All-Star Time will be scheduled once a day for students in need of additional support.
How Will We Support Challenging Our Advanced Students?
Students in grades K-5 who qualify for advanced math are allowed to take the next grade level’s math class. This is accomplished by scheduling math at the same time. For other content areas and middle school, advancement is achieved through independent assignment or student schedule adjustments allowing students to take higher level classes. Students selected for this advancement will be based on a combination of standardized testing, teacher recommendation, and parent approval.
Don’t Forget About Field Day!
On select Fridays, students in grades 3 through 8 will have an extended physical education block which will allow them to travel to off-site facilities. These may include sports fields, indoor field house or turf facilities, as well as specialized sports and activity facilities. Field Day may take up to 120 minutes of the day and will require students to have a modified academic calendar on those days.