Curriculum at West Ridge Elementary

Colorado State Content Standards

The state of Colorado has produced content standards for each subject and grade level range. These standards can be found on the CDE website. If you visit this website and see these standards, you will still have many questions about specific learning. Our school district has further condensed these standards into “essential learnings”, which represent the absolute knowledge, skills, and dispositions that we expect from every student. These “essential learnings” are the framework for which we teach and ultimately assure students learn. We will provide you with a copy of these “essentials” at back-to-school night. To help us accomplish this assured learning, we use the following texts and curricular programs:

Elementary K-6 Reading: Houghton Mifflin Reading 2008

Elementary K-5 Math: Houghton Mifflin Math 2007

6th grade Math: College Preparatory Mathematics - Pre Algebra

K-6 Writing: 6+1 Trait Writing/District 27J Developed Curricular Map with support from Lucy Calkins, Ralph Fletcher, and Barry Lane

Elementary science: Integrated with Houghton Mifflin Reading 2008 and use of Foss Kits

6th grade science: Prentice Hall/Pearson Education - Nature of Science and Technology

Elementary social studies: Integrated with Houghton Mifflin Reading 2008

  • Colorado History - 4th Grade
  • United States - 5th Grade

6th grade social studies: Harcourt Brace Publishing - World Regions

Physical Education: School District 27J Essential Learning and Curricular Map

Music Education: Scott Foresman Silver Burdett - Making Music

Computers: Pearson Digital Learning- Success Maker and ELLIS

Each of these texts has been rigorously screened, researched, and piloted. They closely align with the Colorado State Standards and those "essential learnings" that we expect to meet. For a better look at the research of each program, or the materials please go to the manufacturers website by clicking on each program.