Arrowwood Elementary School

Colorado Common Core State Standards

We follow the new Common Core State Standards for elementary education in the Douglas County School District. The Common Core Standards can be found on the Colorado Department of Education website.

Language Arts

Here at Arrowwood, our community has made a promise of literacy to each child. We believe in preparing our students for success in a world that not only values what one knows, but also values the ways in which one can effectively communicate that knowledge. Our entire staff works diligently to build and strengthen our Comprehensive Literacy System. As a component of this system, each classroom implements a Balanced Literacy Framework where students are engaged in authentic activities that require them to read a complex range of texts (both printed and digitized) and write in a variety of formats. Teachers instruct and support students through research-based techniques that gradually release responsibility to students. These include:

As another component to our Comprehensive Literacy System, we work collaboratively as a Professional Learning Community. Teams closely monitor student growth and achievement, evaluate and adapt instructional practices, and seek out additional resources or interventions for any students who are not growing at optimal levels.

Mathematics

We currently use Ready Math in our classrooms grades K-6. In addition, we use the iReady instructional online tool, IXL and Khan Academy to supplement daily math instruction. For students who need interventions, we use Do the Math by Marilyn Burns.

Science & Social Studies

Teachers use leveled texts in our Literacy Resource Room to support our science and social studies standards. In addition, several grade levels are piloting Stemscopes for science to meet the science standards. We also use Studies Weekly for Social Studies.

Specials

Students at Arrowwood participate regularly in weekly art, music, STEAM, and physical education classes as well as library instruction. In these special areas of study, students are exposed to a wide variety of topics and areas of study each session.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)

At AWE, we have decided that the STEAM approach, which includes the arts (fine arts, music, etc.) better reflects our desire to have well rounded students. Most STEM programs tend to be heavy on the digital (think computers, iPads)- this is not our intent. We believe students learn problem solving and critical thinking skills in a variety of ways.

Students will be engaged in hands-on projects to reinforce various concepts, for example "Aerospace". In addition to learning about aerospace careers, current aerospace projects and planets, the students will build a stomp rocket. This hands-on project will reinforce the underlying concepts of force, gravity, and aerodynamics while incorporating the engineering design process.

Technology does not always have an on/off switch. One of the earliest and most useful pieces of educational technology was the lead pencil. Every piece of new technology you use started with an amazing idea from a creative mind. We are developing the minds of our next generation of game changers right here at AWE.

Academic Adventures

Arrowwood provides off-campus field trips for each grade level at least once per semester. In addition, there are numerous on-campus experiences that are brought to our students as extensions of their learning.

Extracurricular Clubs & Activities

Arrowwood also prides itself in offering a great many before, during and after school opportunities for our students. Please refer to the "Thursday Folder" link, under the Parent Zone tab, to check out the amazing extracurricular offerings for students that are available before and after school.