Our Curriculum
Elevating Education with HMH and McGraw Hill: Empowering Excellence at Imagine Schools
At Imagine Schools, we have developed a curriculum that guides teachers and students toward the high level of learning expected in today’s world. This process is used every time lessons and assessments are planned. It describes the curriculum and, along with the Imagine Schools School Design Model, sets the parameters for teaching and learning in an effective classroom. The curriculum represents the best thinking of education professionals, as well as the input of business and community members as to the needs of students in a global society.
The curriculum is characterized by challenging academic standards that lead to high achievement for all students. Standards are clearly articulated at each grade level, building upon a solid content base in each academic subject. Students expand prior knowledge through a spiraled thematic curriculum, focusing on inquiry and project-based applications of key concepts and universal ideas. Instructional practices vary, ensuring that teachers meet the needs of students with diverse learning styles.
The curriculum provides students and teachers with world class learning opportunities, with a focus on the following:
- Learner centered results
- Authentic and challenging materials and activities
- Critical thinking and creative problem solving
- Technology as a learning tool
- A hands-on, minds-on approach to learning
- Personal and global perspectives
- Reflection and exchange of ideas
- Interdisciplinary thematic units
We believe that engaging students in a rigorous standards-based curriculum is essential to student achievement and success. The curriculum characteristics allow for flexibility, yet maintain high and appropriate expectations for all. At Imagine Schools, the curriculum ensures that students enjoy the moment, and learn for a lifetime.
Here at IESA, we have a 120 minute balanced literacy block. During this time each grade level uses research based strategies to teach to sub-sections of reading foundations, literature, informational text, writing, speaking and listening, and language.
See below for a traditional break down of minutes.
15-20 minutes Phonological Awareness/ Phonics
- Heggerty curriculum (K-5)
- Kinder Phonics (K-2)
- Words Their Way (2-5)
- Being a Writer
30 minutes Reading focus – Literature or Informational
- Focused Read Aloud with a focus on vocabulary
- Frayer Model for vocabulary work
30 minutes Language/Writing Instruction
- Tara West Writing (K-2)
- Writing Revolution (3-5)
60 minutes Guided Reading
- Literacy Footprints
- Freckle
- MyOn reading program
At IESA, we spend 90 minutes a day on Math instruction. We use research based strategies that promote critical thinking and problem based instruction.
See below for an traditional break down of minutes.
5 -10 minutes – Math talk
5 -10 minutes – Content related vocabulary
15-20 minutes – Mini-lesson
- Eureka Squared
60 minutes- Guided Math
- XtraMath
- Digital Guided Math (Supplemental)
- hand2mind (Supplemental)
- Eureka Squared
- Freckle
Our Science and Social Studies curriculum will be taught using Project Based Learning (PBL).
This time in our day will traditionally last about 30 minutes, and will include a focus on content vocabulary, background information, and a problem posed. Once the problem is posed, students will use their knowledge to respond to the problem/task.
Our first unit will be on Government. Check back here for updates to what our students are currently creating in their PBL for this unit.