Academics

To see our grading policy, click HERE.

MATHEMATICS

Illustrative Mathematics

MS104 uses Illustrative Math to guide our base mathematics curriculum.
We believe that all students should be able to reason and communicate proficiently in mathematics. They should have knowledge of and skill in the use of the vocabulary, forms of representation, materials, tools, techniques, and intellectual methods of the discipline of mathematics, including the ability to define and solve problems with reason, insight, inventiveness, and technical proficiency.
You can learn more about Illustrative Math on their WEBSITE.

To access and review past state math and ELA exams, including questions and answers, click HERE.

  • Additional Resources

    In addition to our basic curriculum, MS104 encourages the use of iReady, a great online learning resource that students can use in the classroom as well as at home. iReady offers personalized instruction and practice based on student diagnostic results, gearing lessons toward the student's latest results, so that they are targeted for the skills where there is room for growth.


    To learn more about iReady’s Personalized Instruction feature, click     HERE.
    (Also available in     Spanish and Mandarin)

    For iReady’s Family Guide, click HERE.
    (Also available in     Spanish and Mandarin)

    And for the iReady General Family Center, click HERE.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA)

MS 104 has adopted the Columbia University Teachers’ College Reading and Writing Project. Our goals with the implementation of this curriculum is to foster an authentic love and appreciation for reading and writing with our students and to increase the volume of reading and writing. Students are provided with ample amount of choice and agency through the texts they choose to read and the pieces they choose to write.

Our ELA teachers utilize a workshop model in each lesson allowing students time to practice, perfect and take ownership over the reading and writing skills taught in each unit. Reading and writing workshop is an approach that helps students become lifelong, avid, and expert readers and writers. Over the course of the year, students will be exposed to a wide variety of writing opportunities such as expository, narrative, poetry and argumentative. Additionally, students will experience authentic reading experiences through a balanced literacy approach. Through each unit of study, students choose from a range of books meeting their independent reading level, are paired with reading partners and participate in book clubs. The units are genre or theme based such as “A Deep Study of Character”, “Tapping the Power of Nonfiction” and “Dystopian Book Clubs”.

To access and review past state ELA and math exams, including questions and answers, click HERE.

104 ONLINE LIBRARY

To explore our online library resources, please click HERE.

SOCIAL STUDIES

The Social Studies curriculum at 104 follows the New York City Scope and Sequence and focuses on the following themes throughout each grade:

  • Individual Development and Cultural Identity

  • Development, Movement, and Interaction of Cultures

  • Time, Continuity and Change

  • Geography, Humans and the Environment

  • Development and Transformation of Social Structures

  • Power, Authority and Governance

  • Civic Ideals and Practices

  • Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems

  • Science, Technology, and Innovation

  • Global Connections and Exchange

6th GRADE UNITS OF STUDY: EASTERN HEMISPHERE

  • Geography of the Eastern Hemisphere

    • Geography skills

    • Five Themes of Geography

    • Analysis of real-world geographical issues by reading  A Long Walk to Water

  • First Humans, Neolithic Revolution, and the Early River Valley Civilizations

    • Distinguishing between primary and secondary sources

    • Analyzing sources in order to answer document-based questions

    • Contextualizing the study of ancient history by considering the role of archaeology

    • Analysis of ancient river valley civilizations (Egypt and Mesopotamia)

  • Comparative Classical Civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere

    • Comparative study of ancient Greece, Rome and China

    • Classical Civilization Newspapers

  • The Mediterranean World and Interactions Across the Eastern Hemisphere

    • Analysis of the Eastern Hemisphere after the fall of Rome: the Silk Road, Black Death, Explorers

    • Focus on geographic themes

7th GRADE UNITS OF STUDY:

  • Native Americans, Early Encounters and Colonial Development

    • Ancient Civilizations of the American Continent

    • North American Indigenous People

    • European Exploration

    • Columbian Exchange

    • Colonization of the Americas

    • Development of Thirteen Colonies

  • Road to Independence

    • The French and Indian War

    • Proclamation of 1763

    • British Taxation and Colonial Response

    • The War for Independence

  • A New Nation: The United States Constitution

    • The Constitutional Convention

    • The Articles of Confederation

    • Constitutional Compromises

    • Separation of Powers / Checks & Balances

    • Bill of Rights

    • Washington, Adams, and Jefferson

    • The Louisiana Purchase

  • A Nation Grows: Expansion & Reform

    • Lewis & Clark

    • War of 1812

    • Monroe Doctrine

    • Missouri Compromise

    • Andrew Jackson’s Presidency

    • Mexican-American War

    • Gold Rush

    • Transcontinental Railroad

    • Industrial Revolution

  • A Nation Divided: Civil War

    • Cotton Gin

    • Bleeding Kansas

    • John Brown / Harper’s Ferry

    • Factors of Division

    • Election of Lincoln (1860)

    • Fort Sumter

    • Civil War Campaign

8th GRADE UNITS OF STUDY:

  • Reconstruction

  • A Changing Society and The Progressive Era

  • The United States as an Expansionist Nation

  • WWI and the United States Between Wars

  • WWII: The United States Assumes Worldwide Responsibilities

  • From WWII to the Present: The Changing Nature of the American People

Social Studies Scope and Sequence

SCIENCE

The integrated science curriculum at Baruch follows a spiral curriculum where in each grade students are study in depth topics in physical, life, and earth science. The curriculum follows the New York City Scope and Sequence which is now currently aligned to the national Next Generation Science Standards.

6TH GRADE UNITS OF STUDY

  • Energy & Simple Machines

  • Weather & the Atmosphere

  • Diversity of Life

  • Ecology

7TH GRADE UNITS OF STUDY

  • Energy & Matter

  • Geology

  • Human Body

  • Plants & Animals

8TH GRADE UNITS OF STUDY

  • Evolution

  • Genetics

  • Forces and Motion

  • Astronomy

​Students actively engage in hands on inquiry and lab experiences that focuses on the NGSS science practices:

  • Asking Questions & Defining Problems

  • Developing & Using Models

  • Planning & Carrying Out Investigations

  • Analyzing & Interpreting Data

  • Using Mathematics & Computational Thinking

  • Constructing Explanations & Designing Solutions

  • Engaging in Argument from Evidence

  • Obtaining, Evaluating and Communicating Information