Curriculum Beliefs
At Lansing, we believe in a unit-based approach to curriculum meaning that we teach and test to a big idea that crosses curricular boundaries. Unit plans consist of concepts and learning goals that are taught over a period of time and are woven together, often across subject areas. A unit plan lasts several weeks (or longer) and includes several standards, skills, and desired outcomes for interconnected learning. For example, science research involves the research, reading, and writing strands of English/language arts. So while the students are studying, researching, and writing about amphibians, they are using the skills they have learned and practiced in language arts as they expand their knowledge about science concepts. Combining subject areas most often involves overlapping lessons in the subjects, thus creating longer spans of class time for study and practice.
Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
We teach and test to standards because all public schools in the state of Colorado test to the CCSS annually on an assessment called CMAS, which stands for Colorado Measures of Academic Success. To learn more about Common Core, please visit their website HERE.
Curricular Resources
While unit planning and CCSS guide our curriculum, we do have specific resources that support our work in each curricular area. Next to each subject, we have listed the resource we use and a website link to learn more about that resource.
Reading: Wonders
Writing: Lucy Calkins Units of Study - Writing
Phonics/Vocabulary/Spelling
K-3: Wilson Fundations
4-5: Fountas & Pinnell
High-Frequency Words: Fry List
Conventions: Patterns of Power
Math: Bridges
Science: FOSS Science
Social Studies: My World