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- Willow Creek Elementary School
- Academics Overview
Academics
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Academics at Willow Creek
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At Willow Creek, both our curriculum and our methods of instruction are intended to nurture the whole child. We do not define success simply as achievement or test scores; our mission is to help all children become confident and caring students who are well-prepared for middle school and beyond.
To Think
At Willow Creek, we strongly believe that students need to know how to think critically and creatively. We support their learning of thinking skills with extensive and consistent use of the Thinking Maps program. Thinking Maps provide visual representations of common thought processes, such as comparison and contrast.To Learn
Students are expected to show growth in their mastery of basic skills and in content associated with the Colorado Academic Standards. Information on these standards can be accessed on the Colorado Department of Education website. These content areas and skills lay a foundation for an excellent preparation for middle school and for eventual success as adults.National media and technology standards are also interwoven throughout the curriculum in order to teach students how to access and utilize information. For more information about such standards, visit the ISTE Website.
To Achieve
Our instructional strategies are focused on supporting the achievement of each child. Careful planning and continuous monitoring help our teachers meet student needs.Cherry Creek Instructional Framework Website.
At Willow Creek, we believe that delivering good instruction is only part of what is necessary for achievement. At every grade, we encourage the discipline and work habits that will help students become successful in education and life.
To Care
We believe in guiding students to help them become caring and respectful people. Through rewarding positive behavior and emphasizing the importance of good choices, we demonstrate the value of being a good citizen. In addition, our PTO and our Student Council sponsor a number of events and activities that give students a chance to help others, such as our Food Drive for Cimarron and the student coin collection to help endangered animals.
Subject Area Information
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Science
The state of Colorado has implemented new science standards. To meet or exceed these standards, our teachers utilize multiple district curricular resources when teaching science concepts. These resources engage students in science through utilization of inquiry, critical thinking, and collaboration. These resources also emphasize the scientific method and include many opportunities for hands-on experiments in Earth, Life, and Physical Sciences.
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Social Studies
To meet or exceed Colorado Academic Standards, Willow Creek uses Inquiry Journeys. This resource is used across the district to provide instruction that is culturally responsive, inspires inquiry-based learning, aligns to national standards, and helps develop literacy skills. The knowledge and skills provided through social studies is the key to preparing citizens to participate effectively in our democratic society and to understand international events that shape the future.
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Math
To meet or exceed Colorado Academic Standards, Willow Creek uses Bridges, which is a curriculum adopted by the district for all elementary schools. This curriculum starts in kindergarten and continues through fifth grade. The program uses a variety of learning modalities and strategies to provide students with a rich experience with mathematical content and practices. The emphasis is on conceptual understanding by presenting multiple strategies and techniques to solve authentic problems.
Student-Produced Math VideosA group of our students recently produced videos of how they use some of the strategies they have been taught to do specific calculations. Please watch! Here are the links:
Give and Take with Whole Numbers
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Writing
To meet or exceed Colorado Academic Standards, our school has established a belief system that students can and should write on a regular basis. We incorporate the use of HMH Into Reading and a variety of teacher-created writing rubrics to have students self-evaluate and to provide feedback to students about writing progress. It is our belief that teachers have a responsibility to help students find real purposes to write and to assist students as they draft and revise writing pieces. We also believe that grammar and mechanics are best learned in the context of actual writing.
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Reading
To meet or exceed Colorado Academic Standards, our school utilizes the Wilson Fundations program kindergarten through third grade to assist students in the development of a strong base of phonics. For the 2023-2024 school year, kindergarten through fifth grade will be implementing the HMH Into Reading curriculum along with other research-based resources. In addition to HMH Into Reading and Wilson Fundations, primary grades use the Orton-Gillingham (OG) approach to help all students read on grade level. Teachers use these three programs in tandem to help all students feel successful reading on grade-level texts.
Additionally, intermediate grades use well developed units that use a structured literacy approach. Within the units students are exposed to a variety of texts and novels. Students are given the opportunity to respond to literature in both verbal and written formats, enabling students to develop the skills to construct their own meaning while reading.
