Curriculum

Welcome to the Opportunity Education Let's
Learn series of educational DVDs, classroom
materials, and teacher's guides. This brief
overview is intended to give a taste of the
program. It is not a comprehensive overview
of the program, simply a sample of the types
of materials that are available at each grade
level and in each of the subject areas.

Principles of Learning

The activities shown on the DVDs and found in the
teacher's guides are based on three core principles of learning:

  • Children learn by doing.
    • Active participation in lessons engages children's natural curiosity and ability to learn.
    Watching the lessons will help students learn the skills presented, but they need to use these skills in
    order to construct a sense of meaning in their own minds.

  • Children need to practice new skills more than once, in more than one way.
    • All skills require practice before they are easy for students, and basic skills must be mastered before
    more complex skills can be attempted. The activities in the teacher's guides will help students become
    comfortable with these skills by practicing them in different ways.

  • Children learn better when they are encouraged and praised for their work.
    • Children respond to praise because they want to please their parents and teachers. The more your
    students' success is praised, the more they will strive to be successful. Of course, mistakes should be
    pointed out, and children should be given instruction to correct those mistakes--and praised when they finally
    complete a task successfully. Students who are praised for real learning will want to learn even more.

    Learning Goals

    The Let's Learn series currently focuses on four major content areas:
    Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Creative Arts. Within each discipline,
    goals are established that are consistent with accepted teaching
    standards and practices.

    How the lessons are presented

    Each lesson follows the following format:
    1. DVD Lesson • A lesson is shown on the DVD, with the teacher instructing students.
    2. Classroom Lesson • Directions are given for classroom practice of the skills students are to learn.
    3. Review Lesson • On the DVD, the teacher reviews the skills learned with the students. This is
    followed by a second review with pictures.
    4. Extra Practice • A number of activities to practice the lesson's skills are listed. In the days following
    the viewing of the DVD lesson, teachers should choose activities that match students' need for practice
    and complete them with their class.
    5. Assessment • Assessment activities are included at the end of each section. These are small "tests"
    that will tell the classroom teacher that students have mastered each of the skills and are ready to move
    on to new challenges. A checklist is provided so each student's progress can be recorded.

    What is included in the kits

    1. DVD • Each grade level kit includes a DVD for each of the core areas. These DVDs may have from
    four to twelve individual lessons per DVD, depending on the grade and subject.
    2. Teacher's Guide • Every DVD is accompanied by a Teacher's Guide that explains the lessons,
    objectives and activities as seen on the DVD. The Guide also gives additional lesson plan
    ideas to extend the DVD lessons.
    3. Classroom Materials • Every kit includes all the classroom materials necessary to teach the lessons
    as seen on the DVD. This may include books, art materials, musical instruments, and more.
    4. Supplemental Materials • In some cases, extra materials are included to support a learning concept.
    For example, additional books at the appropriate level are included for reading practice.

    Please note: Televisions and DVD players are also provided as part of the program. These are
    generally purchased locally, avoiding overseas shipping when possible.

    How the lessons are organized

    Lessons are designed to build on prior knowledge (prior lessons) within a pre-set scope and sequence.
    Therefore, it is important that students complete the program sequentially, completing the Pre Primary/
    Grade 1 lessons before moving on to the next lessons.

    Some of the skills have been introduced in the prior level and are being extended at the next grade level
    while other skills may be new to this grade level.

    How we assess the program's effectiveness

    There are informal assessments provided in each teacher's manual as well as suggestions for intermediate assessments. At the end of the academic year, a formal assessment is provided for the mathematics, reading, and science lessons.

    These assessments utilize the DVD technology as well as Scantron score sheets. All materials are
    shipped toward the end of the school year, including blank answer forms, manuals, pencils, and return
    envelopes. Tests are machine scored at our offices and reports are sent back to the schools.