curriculum

Garden Hills Elementary offers a consistent, rigorous instructional program for all students. The foundation for our programs is the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards, required by the State Department of Education, serves as the foundation of our programs and includes teaching Common Core standards in Math, Reading and Language Arts.

However, at Garden Hills the programs are enhanced and enriched far beyond the regular expectations. Common assessments offer us data for curriculum and instruction decisions based on our students’ needs. Our curriculum maps and academic programs ensure consistency from class to class and grade to grade.

Features of our curriculum are:

Reading

  • Implementation of Saxon phonics program in all K-2 classrooms
  • Complete Reading Series Methodology with Orton-Gillingham K-5
  • Implementation of Junior Great Books program in all classrooms 1-5
  • STAR Reading Assessments and Accelerated Reading Program K-5
  • Differentiated instruction through Guided Reading & Daily 5 Literacy Independence Model K-5
  • Treasures reading series for Common Core Georgia Performance Standards
  • Integration of reading into the IB Units of Inquiry

Language Arts/Writing

  • Shurley English grammar and writing program 1-5
  • Treasures Grammar, Spelling, and Writing program
  • Zaner-Bloser Writing program materials K-2
  • Introduction of the writing genres K-2 (Informational, Persuasive, Narrative, Response to Literature)
  • Writer’s workshop, writer’s journals/notebooks, common editing checklist, cross-curricular writing
  • Writing instruction provided through Daily 5 Literacy Independence Method

Mathematics

  • Full implementation of state Common Core (CCGPS) Math Frameworks
  • Use of manipulatives and games as a part of the math program
  • IXL & First-In-Math for enriching, differentiated mathematics instruction
  • STAR Math Assessments
  • “Protected” math block – 60 minutes, minimum
  • Everyday Counts Calendar Math in grades K-1

Science

  • IB Units of Inquiry
  • IB Exhibition (required in 5th grade)
  • Curriculum maps
  • Georgia Department of Education Frameworks
  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Science series
  • Science Fair
  • High Touch, High Tech In-House Field Trips

Social Studies

  • IB Units of Inquiry
  • IB Exhibition (required in 5th grade)
  • Curriculum maps
  • Georgia Department of Education Frameworks
  • Macmillan/McGraw Hill Time-links