Elementary students at Cornerstone Schools focus their efforts on mastering reading, writing and arithmetic, as those are the fundamental skills necessary for success in learning and adulthood. While Cornerstone students are also instucted in science, social studies, and foreign language, the focus of the school is on enabling each student to master the core academics.

 

Elementary Curriculum

Cornerstone Schools carefully reviewed, researched and tested several curriculums to determine those most beneficial to childrens' ability to master reading, writhing and arithmetic.As a result of that evaluation, Cornerstone has selected the following curriculum for elementary students:

• Science Research Associates, Inc. (SRA) reading, phonics, language arts, science, social studies, foreign language (Spanish), and spelling programs.
• The Saxon Math program.
• To strengthen reading, we have also added the Accelerated Reading Program.

We believe that all the programs selected are the best in their particular subject. If you have any more questions about our curriculum please feel free to ask our administration.

 

Science Research Associates, Inc. (SRA)

SRA has been based on a deep respect for knowledge since the beginning. In 1938, SRA was established with the goal of using the principles of behavioral sciences to improve career guidance and counseling. The company first published occupational interest surveys and later, testing materials for training and industry.

Soon, SRA began to develop testing materials for elementary and secondary schools. This work uncovered a need to provide teachers with materials that would help a classroom of different students learning at different rates and styles. SRA soon began its commitment to helping every child to learn.

SRA/McGraw- Hill has more than 60 years of experience in working to help every child learn. They publish preschool to 8^th grade products.

 

Saxon Math

Saxon Math is unique because the entire program is based on introducing a topic to a student and then allowing the student to build upon that concept as they learn new ones. Topics are never dropped but are instead increased in complexity and practiced every day, providing the time required for concepts to become totally familiar.

This incremental approach to math differs from most traditional programs, which are "chapter-based." In these traditional texts, students are presented with and expected to learn an entire mathematical concept in one day. The homework for that day consists of twenty or thirty problems, all of which deal with that concept. The topic is then only reviewed prior to a test, if at all. Saxon textbooks, however, divide concepts into smaller, more easily grasped pieces called increments. A new increment is presented each day and students work only a few problems involving the new material. The remaining homework consists of practice problems involving concepts previously introduced. Thus, every assignment (and every test) is a cumulative review of all material covered up to that point.

Report Cards and Progress Reports

The school strives to keep parents informed about their child’s progress in school and to maintain good communication between home and school. Each student is monitored regularly for progress in assigned tasks. Parents will receive report cards every nine weeks with, an informal progress report as necessary.

 

Standardized Tests

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills will be administered each year to grades K-5. Parents will receive the evaluations over the summer.