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Academics

Curriculum

Our curriculum is based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), the Next Generation Science Standards (NCSS), and the College, Career, and Civic Life C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards (C3).  You can read more about each of these by clicking the links below.

Math

In Kindergarten through 2nd Grade, our math instruction builds a strong foundation in number sense, problem-solving, and mathematical thinking. Students explore concepts such as counting, addition, subtraction, place value, measurement, and shapes through hands-on activities, visual models, and real-world applications.

We use Illustrative Math to enhance our core instruction. Illustrative Math provides interactive lessons tailored to each student’s learning needs. It offers engaging activities, immediate feedback, and step-by-step support to help students build confidence and master essential skills at their own pace.

Our goals for K–2 math include:

  • Developing fluency in basic addition and subtraction facts
  • Understanding numbers and how they work together
  • Building strong problem-solving and reasoning skills
  • Fostering a positive attitude toward math through engaging and supportive instruction

We encourage families to support math learning at home by practicing counting, addition, and subtraction in daily activities, playing math games, and exploring Imagine Math together to celebrate your child’s growth.

Literacy

At Rutland Northwest, we are committed to developing confident readers and writers through instruction rooted in the Science of Reading. This research-based approach ensures that all students build the foundational skills needed for lifelong literacy success. The core components of reading include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.  

  • Phonemic Awareness: The ability to notice, think about, and work with the individual sounds in spoken words
  • Phonics: The relationship between letters and the sounds they represent
  • Fluency: The ability to read out loud accurately, at an appropriate rate, and with proper phrasing, intonation, and expression
  • Vocabulary: Knowledge about the meanings, uses, and pronunciations of words
  • Comprehension: The understanding of the meaning of a passage 

Phonemic Awareness with Heggerty

In the early grades, we use the Heggerty program to build students’ phonemic awareness – their ability to hear, identify, and manipulate sounds in spoken words. This daily oral routine lays the groundwork for accurate decoding and spelling.
 

Systematic Phonics

Our approach to phonics instruction is systematic and explicit, ensuring students build strong foundational reading skills.  Currently, we use both the Fundations program and the UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) Foundations program to teach how letters and sounds work together to form words.  These programs help students develop the accuracy and confidence needed to become successful, independent readers.
 

Comprehensive Literacy Instruction

Alongside Heggerty (phonemic awareness) and Fundations/UFLI (phonics), students engage in rich reading and writing experiences each day. They read high-quality texts to build knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension skills while also developing their abilities to express themselves clearly in writing.

Our language arts program is designed to ensure that every child receives the instruction they need to thrive as a reader and writer. We believe in the power of literacy to open doors for all students, and we are proud to partner with families in this essential work.

Science

In kindergarten through second grade, our science instruction is designed to spark curiosity and build foundational understanding of the world around us. Our program aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), ensuring that students engage in learning experiences that develop their ability to think, explore, and act like scientists.

Social Studies

In Kindergarten through 2nd grade, students learn about the world around them and their place in it. Our Social Studies instruction follows the C3 Standards, which help children build important skills for thinking, learning, and working with others.

Students explore topics like families, neighborhoods, community helpers, maps, and important people from history. They learn what it means to be a good friend and community member, and they start to understand how people work together to solve problems. Through stories, discussions, and hands-on activities, students build curiosity about their world and begin to see how they can make a positive difference.