Curriculum & Instruction
At P.S. 130, we strive to teach the whole child. Rigorous core academics, social emotional learning, arts education, and culturally responsive lessons are just a small part of our rich curriculum. Teachers differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners and support their growth as students and friends. Our curriculum and instruction are always evolving to support the needs of our community and meet city and state standards.
Our Core Literacy Program
At P.S. 130, we are committed to providing all students with a strong foundation in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Our core literacy program uses three research-based curricula across grades Pre-K through 5:
- Heggerty (Pre-K–2): A daily phonological and phonemic awareness program that helps young learners develop the listening and sound manipulation skills critical for learning to read.
- Fundations (K–3): A structured phonics program that builds students’ decoding, spelling, and handwriting skills to support accurate and fluent reading.
- Wit & Wisdom (K–5): A knowledge-building English Language Arts program that integrates reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking through engaging, content-rich texts and meaningful discussions.
These programs work together to ensure that every student builds the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to become strong, thoughtful readers and writers.
Mathematics
At P.S. 130, we use Illustrative Mathematics (IM) in grades K–5 as our core math program. IM is a research-based curriculum that helps students build a strong understanding of mathematical concepts, develop problem-solving strategies, and see themselves as capable mathematicians.
During math lessons, students explore math ideas in depth, explain their thinking, and learn to make connections between concepts. The program emphasizes both conceptual understanding and fluency, with opportunities for students to engage in meaningful discussions, collaborate with peers, and apply their learning to real-world situations.
Our goal is for all students to develop the skills, confidence, and curiosity they need to succeed in math and beyond.
Social Studies
Social Studies at P.S. 130 has always been a favorite of students and families. We explore topics of history, geography, economics, civics, citizenship, and government through literacy and hands-on learning activities. Social Studies is an integral part of helping students become prepared for and part of the global community. At P.S. 130 we help students become critical thinkers who reflect on topics relevant to their own lives and cultures as well as see themselves as part of the diversity that makes our world a better place. To support teachers and students, the Social Studies Department of NYCPS has produced a curriculum called Passport to Social Studies. New York City educators created it for our students, and it is meant to prepare children for the global community.
Science
Here at P.S. 130, we try to inspire curiosity about our world through hands-on experimentation, observation, and formulation of ideas. Watching students make connections and discover how incredible our universe is fills our educators with passion. Our lower school has a greenhouse classroom where students and staff work together to grow and harvest various fruits, vegetables, and herbs hydroponically. A focal point of the program is learning about edible plants through hands-on activities, observation, and – of course – tasting! In addition to the hydroponic curriculum, students learn about other aspects of our natural world, including states of matter, geology, and environmental sustainability.
Visual Arts
The art program at P.S. 130 is a choice-based program called TAB or Teaching for Artistic Behavior. The child is at the center of the art making process. The three sentence curriculum is:
1. What do artists do?
2. The child is the artist.
3. The classroom is their studio.
Students learn a wide variety of techniques in Drawing, Collage, Painting, 3D Construction, Fiber, and Printmaking. Students are encouraged to pursue their own ideas and interests in an exploratory process in P.S. 130’s art studios.
Music
We have a lively and rigorous Music Department with a variety of activities in each grade level. Our Pre-K students have Music and Movement classes where they use creative, play-based stories to explore music. Our 3-K through 2nd Grade classes spend time singing, learning general music theory, movement, and keyboard using the Music and the Brain curriculum. Our 2nd graders also participate in the Carnegie Hall Musical Explorers curriculum, where they study the music of six different cultures and attend an interactive concert at Carnegie Hall. Grades 3-5 learn about song form, sing folk songs from all over the world, and create original compositions. We also have an after-school band program for 4th and 5th grade students.
Physical Education
Movement is key to students’ success in and out of the classroom. It is very important for children to learn about different muscle groups and how they work. Warming up and stretching out their bodies helps keep them safe. Music is a key component to our P.E. program, as well. The Phys Ed teachers have a goal to keep the students moving their bodies in a fun way by exploring various sports and games.
Technology
In the lower school, 2nd graders work with iPads. We learn about digital citizenship and safety online. We also use Scratch Jr. as an introduction to block coding. In the upper school, we review safety and digital citizenship along with keyboarding, Google Docs, Slides, Forms, and Sheets. We work with Scratch using block coding to create projects and games. In both buildings, we have a lot of fun!