Core Academic Subjects
Core Academics Subjects
English Language Arts (ELA)
Montlake Elementary uses the Seattle Public Schools’ standard Center for the Collaborative Classroom (CCC) Collaborative Literacy curriculum for K-5 ELA instruction. This curriculum is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and also integrates social-emotional learning at every grade level. The CCC curriculum has three modules:
- Being A Reader (K-2) teaches foundational skills such as phonological awareness, decoding and comprehension and at the same time works to foster a love of reading. It includes whole-class and small-group instruction, independent work rotations and authentic reading experiences.
- Being A Writer (K-5) teaches the writing process while developing intrinsic motivation for the craft of writing via read-alouds, independent practice and student-teacher conferencing, and instruction in language skills and conventions. Students are immersed in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, and opinion/persuasive writing.
- Making Meaning (K-5) delivers whole-class reading and vocabulary instruction through read-aloud experiences, guided and independent strategy practice, and student-teaching conferencing to scaffold word-learning and fluency in reading.
Mathematics
Montlake Elementary uses the Pearson enVision 2020 mathematics curriculum for K-5 math instruction. This Common Core State Standards-aligned curriculum emphasizes the development of all students as mathematicians through the development of Math Practices – the habits of mind, processes and dispositions that enable a learner to understand mathematics and to use or do mathematics with understanding. The curriculum allows educators to easily deliver differentiated instruction to all learners as they progress toward becoming fully proficient mathematicians. The curriculum is engaging and emphasizes a variety of problem-solving strategies, and includes optional home-based digital learning modules for students who wish to practice their skills further.
Science
Science instruction at Montlake Elementary is based upon exciting inquiry-focused discussions, hands-on investigations, and teaching scientific writing skills. Instruction in Life, Physical and Earth Sciences is delivered via the Full Option Science System (FOSS) curriculum. Our unique Learning Garden is available to all educators, and also periodically hosts outside providers of environmental science education. Our student Green Team (Grades 2-5) engages in hands-on learning through supervising the sorting of lunchroom waste to keep our environmental footprint as low as possible.