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Curriculum
CRA’s curriculum will directly align with the Utah State Core Curriculum requirements and the CRT standards. We will augment the USOE requirements with the Core Knowledge Sequence curriculum by E. D. Hirsch, Jr. When properly implemented, this curriculum meets and in many cases exceeds the standards of the Utah State Core Curriculum. The Core Knowledge Sequence is listed on AIMS as a state approved curriculum. Saxon Math and Open Court Language Arts and Reading will be utilized as supplementary curriculum. Periodic assessments will be implemented by the principal to confirm alignment with the state core.
After reviewing numerous available options, we are convinced that the Core Knowledge Sequence will best set us apart from other public schools in Salt Lake County and will help us better achieve our mission and vision.
The Core Knowledge Sequence is a grade-by-grade sequence of specific content guidelines in history, geography, mathematics, science, language arts, and the fine arts. This sequence is the result of a long research process developed by the nonprofit Core Knowledge Foundation and Dr. E.D. Hirsch Jr and has been shown to significantly improve the results of the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skill for those schools utilizing Core Knowledge.
Teachers must also have the freedom to develop child-centered methods of teaching. Each teacher will choose how to present and teach the curriculum. To accomplish this they will have personal and common preparation time to develop lesson plans according to the guidelines provided by the State of Utah and the Core Knowledge Sequence.
The Core Knowledge Sequence is listed on AIMS as a state approved curriculum. Saxon Math and Open Court Language Arts and Reading will be utilized as supplementary curriculum.
Special Service-Learning Emphasis
CRA will have a service-learning emphasis based on the Lowell Bennion Service-Learning Program at the University of Utah, a program based on the concept of applied learning. Through service with various community partnerships, students are given the opportunity to apply learned concepts directly. For example, if students are studying a unit on the environment, CRA would partner with an organization such as Tree Utah and arrange for students to plant trees in an area requiring reforestation. If a health and nutrition unit is being taught, students would learn about world hunger, organize a food drive, and contact the Utah Food Bank to make donations to address the issue of hunger in our state.
Language Arts
The language arts will follow the State Core Curriculum to teach reading, writing, listening and speaking skills for each grade level. Students will be exposed to several literacy programs such as Junior Great Books®.
Junior Great Books® is proven to help students develop essential literacy skills—reading carefully, thinking critically, listening intently, and speaking and writing persuasively. The goal of Great Books programs is to instill in adults and children the habits of mind that characterize a self-reliant thinker, reader, and learner. Great Books programs are predicated on the idea that everyone can read and understand excellent literature—literature that has the capacity to engage the whole person, the imagination as well as the intellect. Junior Great Books is for students of varying abilities. All students in grades K-12 can participate in Junior Great Books because of the program’s consistent focus on open-ended, interpretive questions.
--The Great Books Foundation
Mathematics
The Core Knowledge math curriculum with be augmented with Saxon Math. For grades K–3, Saxon Math provides an outstanding foundational program especially designed to align with how young children learn and build fluency in math skills.
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All new concepts are developed through hands-on activities and rich mathematical conversations that actively engage students in the learning process. |
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Concepts are developed, reviewed, and practiced over time:
- Understanding follows doing and discussing.
- Mastery follows learning over time.
- Fluency follows practicing over time.
Saxon Math 4–6 programs continue with the same Saxon approach used successfully with students at levels K–3. |
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Distributed practice and review throughout the school year moves students from understanding to mastery to fluency. At the same time, every intermediate program helps students prepare for math concepts and skills they will need in the middle grades. |
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New concepts are modeled through engaging math conversations — but rather than teacher–directed instruction as in the primary grades, the shift is to student-directed learning. Student editions contain the full text of the instructional conversations with examples, and students can follow along as the teacher presents the explanation and refer back to the explanation when necessary. Students see, hear, do, and read, which leads to understanding. |
Social Studies
In addition to following the State Core requirements for Social Studies, CRA will employ service learning activities such as Legislature Day to learn hands-on about our Utah State history, civics and government, economics and geography. Students will also participate in state and world history fairs so that they may share their research and knowledge with students of other grade levels. Fieldtrips to local historic sites and geography bees will also help to mentally cement important concepts.
Science
Scientific skills will meet required competency levels required by the USOE and will be taught using experiments, manipulatives, surveys, research, and technology. Students will learn the scientific method in the classroom, community and in the environment. CRA has access to a naturescape and an adjoining park where students can directly apply theories and principles they are learning in the classroom. Through cultivation of the indigenous plants in the naturescape as well as environmental awareness activities such as “Clean up your Community” students will again be given the opportunity to apply knowledge to the world around them.
Health, Physical Education, and Safety
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs explains that the mind cannot learn and expand until the body’s basic physical needs are met. At CRA, curriculum will teach students the great importance of proper nutrition, exercise and health practices in order to maximize learning capacity. A physical education program will be included in each child’s educational experience. Students will learn basic physical skills as well as sportsmanship, team-work, and how sustained effort can brings achievement. Several special events will celebrate the acquisition of these skills such as a field day, NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick, and the Millcreek Mile. CRA will also continue existing extracurricular activities such as jump-rope team to promote physical fitness.
Safety cannot be overstated as an important aspect of education. Students will attend assemblies regarding personal safety, stranger danger, fire and earthquake safety and neighborhood safety. A safety walk-to-school day will be sponsored to reinforce principles being learned each day.
Educational Technology
Each CRA classroom will have computer and Internet access. A school-wide local area network (LAN) will be installed. Students will gain proficiency in basic word-processing and multi-media presentations. Students will learn safe, ethical and appropriate internet use practices. Teachers will incorporate Internet research and use into lesson plans.
Music, Arts, Foreign Language
CRA recognizes that exposure to arts, in all forms, enhances a child’s understanding of the world around them and provides another link in learning and self expression. It is also an effective tool to enhance learning in other core subjects and will play a significant role in our strategy of diff e rentiated learning. Historically our community has invested significant time, money, and expertise into the school arts program, which we will continue to draw upon in a charter school environment.
CRA will build upon its experience with community involvement to create a substantial visual arts instruction. Each class at CRA will have an art parent to instruct students in visual arts. We will also continue to bring in grants, as we did with Canyon Rim Elementary, which will provide money to partner with community entities such as Repertory Dance Theatre, Utah and Salt Lake City Arts Council, and the Utah Opera Company to provide artists-in-residence. We will continue to implement the artist-in-residence program, which allows students to learn skills from visual to performing arts by local artists.
CRA will also have a music instructor to provide instrumental and band programs for upper grades. All grades will receive music instruction through a parent volunteer network. Special music programs include chimes and student choir.
Multi-lingual skills will open doors to students in future career pursuits and expand their cultural experiences and world views. To this end, CRA intends in the future to provide Spanish language instruction to all grades.
Testing and Monitoring
CRA will conduct regular assessments based on Utah State Core Curriculum standards as well as regular testing under the guidance of the Core Knowledge Sequence. Compliance will occur with state testing requirements and schedules such as IBST and the CRT. All mandated testing results will be reported to the State of Utah. Parents will be notified of results primarily through Parent Teacher Conferences and through the school’s website. CRA will maintain an open-door policy by which parents can obtain a less formal report of their child’s progress anytime throughout the school year. CRA’s principal, teachers and/or others as needed, will compile assessment results for review by the Canyon Rim Board and others as deemed necessary.
CRA’s principal will primarily be responsible for ensuring teachers are successfully integrating state standards into their instruction. It is expected that the principal will provide leadership in monitoring curriculum to avoid redundancy or gaps as well as ensuring that state standards and core objectives are fully met. Annual instruction will be provided for teachers regarding Core Knowledge Sequence curriculum. This will also be a time when teachers can be helped to understand how to integrate state standards into their instruction. Teachers will be given weekly planning time to collaborate with their peers in this process. Demonstration that required curriculum is being covered will be part of evaluations for each educator. In addition to state-required testing, teachers will conduct regular summary assessments and observation to ensure individual student progress. If problems are noted, volunteer and/or aide tutoring as well as increased parental support in that subject will be employed prior to referral for special education.
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