TSD Curriculum
What is Curriculum in Thompson School District
Curriculum is often thought of as the materials being used. Curriculum is actually defined by the Colorado Academic Standards. Thompson School District is required to use these as the driver and foundation for all curricular work. From those, a learning progression is developed outlining when these standards will fit into the year. Once the learning progression has been developed, the measurements of learning will be determined. After this progression of standards and assessments have been created, resources are then looked at to see what materials are needed to best support the teaching and learning of the Colorado Academic Standards. Following the selection of resources, a scope and sequence will be outlined including the learning progression, the assessments, and the resources and how teaching and learning will move throughout the year. All of these together make up a curriculum.
Literacy
Fundations K-3
The research-based approach of the Fundations program allows teachers to confidently present a carefully structured reading, spelling, and handwriting curriculum using engaging materials and multimodal techniques.
ReadyGEN K-5
ReadyGEN is an integrated and well-balanced approach to reading and writing instruction. ReadyGEN was intentionally designed to provide students and teachers with the tools necessary to meet the Common Core instructional shifts. Authentic, rigorous text sets build knowledge around unit themes that actively engage students.
ReadyGEN is organized around unit modules (six units in Grades K-2; four units in Grades 3-5). Unit themes emphasize the common characteristics of a unifying concept, and promote in-depth understanding through daily lessons in two modules. All texts are aligned to the complexity requirements outlined in the Common Core State Standards, ensuring that all students interact with appropriate grade-level texts.
myPerspectives 6th-10th
MyPerspectives ELA is a Grades 6-12 student-centered curriculum that provides a connected approach to improving student learning and achievement. Students read texts and engage in activities that inspire thoughtful conversation, discussion, and debate.
Students will encounter authors' perspectives as they read literature from across time periods and cultures. Students will listen to the perspectives of their peers through conversations and collaborative activities. And, as students read the literature and engage in activities in myPerspectives, they will formulate—and defend—their opinions as they develop their own perspectives.
In each unit of study, students will read classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction texts, and view/listen to media selections, all related to an Essential Question. Students will use technology to interact with texts and activities, and they can write directly in their Student Edition to make interaction with texts more meaningful.
Math
enVision K-5
EnVision® Mathematics for grades K-5 combines problem-based learning and visual learning to deepen students’ conceptual understanding. enVision is used by classrooms across the country and around the world.
EnVision packs a unique one-two punch. Lessons start with Problem-Based Learning (PBL), where students must think critically about a real-world math problem, evaluate options, collaborate, and present solutions. This is followed by Visual Learning to solidify the underlying math concepts.
Big Ideas 6th-8th
Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life fits the needs of today’s middle school math classrooms!
- Uses learning targets and success criteria for student self-assessment.
- Supports deep conceptual understanding to facilitate meaningful application for success in higher-level math courses.
- Helps teachers recognize the impact they have on students.
- Allows students to grow as independent learners and experience the delight of mathematics.
Big Ideas 9th-12th
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Focus on conceptual understanding: Big Ideas Math prioritizes helping students grasp the "why" behind math concepts through exploration and discovery activities, rather than just memorizing algorithms, which aligns with the Common Core's emphasis on conceptual understanding.
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Balanced approach to instruction: The curriculum balances direct instruction with opportunities for independent exploration, allowing students to develop both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding.
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Rigorous problem-solving: Big Ideas Math includes a variety of challenging problems that require students to apply their knowledge to solve complex situations, promoting critical thinking and reasoning skills.
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Coherent progression: Concepts are carefully built upon each other across grade levels, ensuring students can smoothly transition to more advanced mathematics.
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Standards alignment: The curriculum is designed to directly address the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, ensuring students are learning the necessary skills at each grade level.
Science
HMH Science Dimensions 6th-8th
HMH Science Dimensions features student-centered learning that encompasses and integrates inquiry and conceptual understanding, tasks that require high cognitive demand, argumentation, and more. The solution is also data driven, providing a comprehensive, balanced assessment system to ensure teachers help students meet targeted learning goals. Finally, the solution is supported by ongoing professional learning for teachers, including modeling and coaching to maximize educator agency and accommodate individual students.