Academics
Life-Long READERS and WRITERS
At PS158 all students develop into real readers and writers. We believe literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning, and our structured, research-based approach fosters deep understanding across all areas of language. By drawing from multiple high-quality curricula and evidence-based resources, we support all learners to not only learn essential skills, but to also develop a true love and appreciation for reading and writing. Our literacy curriculum is culturally responsive, incorporating diverse texts and perspectives that reflect and honor the identities, experiences, and voices of all students. This comprehensive approach allows us to cater to diverse learning styles and meet each student's individual needs.
We teach the five essential components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. These skills are introduced systematically and reinforced through rich, meaningful texts that help students make connections and deepen their understanding, while also experiencing the joy of reading. Writing instruction focuses on spelling, grammar, and the full writing process across genres. Our goal is to show students how writing can be a powerful tool to share ideas, persuade, tell stories, and inform others.
At PS 158, we emphasize the power of language in reading, writing, and speaking. We equip students with skills to think critically, ask questions, and communicate clearly. Literacy is central to how our students grow into confident, capable learners and thinkers ready for success in school and beyond.
Life-Long PROBLEM-SOLVERS
PS 158 believes that all students are capable mathematical thinkers. By providing rich contexts, honoring student thinking, and connecting conceptual understanding with procedural fluency, we create an environment where students see themselves as mathematicians who can reason, problem-solve, and communicate their thinking with confidence. Students engage in authentic mathematical thinking, developing strategies that make sense to them while building toward more sophisticated mathematical reasoning. To actualize our vision, we utilize updated, researched, curricular resources such as Context for Learning Mathematics and TERC Investigations curricula, which aligns with New York State math standards to ensure a strong foundation in mathematics.
We complement this foundation with Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), an approach that leverages students' natural problem-solving abilities. Students solve problems using their own thinking strategies, sharing and discussing their approaches to deepen understanding for the entire learning community.
We integrate Building Fact Fluency into our mathematics. This approach helps students develop efficient and accurate computation through meaningful practice that connects to their growing number sense.
Ultimately mathematicians at PS 158 begin with sense-making, engage in shared, low-floor, high-ceiling tasks, use discourse to develop understanding; as teachers across all grades provide asset-based support and share high-quality instructional materials that are developed coherently within and across grades.
Life-Long EMOTIONAL SCIENTISTS
Ensuring that every child learns in a safe, supportive, and inclusive school is our top priority. To do this, we use preventive approaches that address the real causes of a conflict as well as reinforcing positive behaviors through teachable moments. As a school we utilize the RULER (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence) and restorative justice approaches by prioritizing communication, empathy, problem-solving and building relationships.
