Curriculum
Literacy
Cottage Hill’s literacy instruction is designed to build strong readers, writers, and thinkers. Students receive systematic foundational skills instruction through 95 Core Phonics, which supports decoding, spelling, and fluency development across grade levels. Writing instruction is strengthened through The Writing Revolution, a structured approach that teaches students how to write clearly, express ideas effectively, and develop strong academic writing skills over time. In addition, students engage with authentic, high-quality literature through stories, novels, and read-alouds that build comprehension, vocabulary, and a lifelong love of reading.
Mathematics
Our mathematics program is focused on developing deep conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and strong problem-solving skills. As our previous adoption cycle with Go Math comes to a close, Cottage Hill is currently engaged in a math curriculum pilot. This process allows our teachers to thoughtfully evaluate instructional materials that best support student learning, engagement, and mastery of grade-level standards. Our goal is to select a program that builds mathematical confidence and supports all learners in becoming flexible, strategic problem solvers.
Science
In science, students participate in hands-on, inquiry-based learning through Mystery Science. This program encourages curiosity and critical thinking as students explore real-world phenomena, ask questions, and engage in investigations. Lessons are designed to be engaging and accessible, helping students make meaningful connections between scientific concepts and the world around them. Through this approach, students develop both scientific knowledge and the skills of observation, analysis, and evidence-based reasoning.
Social Studies
Cottage Hill uses a wide variety of instructional resources to bring social studies to life, including Scholastic News, Studies Weekly, current events, and informational texts embedded within the National Geographic ELA program. Students learn core knowledge in history, geography, civics, and economics while also developing the critical thinking skills needed to analyze the past and understand its connection to the present. Instruction emphasizes inquiry, discussion, and real-world connections to help students become informed and thoughtful citizens.
Character Education & PBIS
At Cottage Hill, we are committed to fostering a positive, respectful, and inclusive school culture. Students learn and practice the Six Traits of Character Counts and are encouraged to demonstrate these traits both at school and in the community. Social-emotional learning is supported through the use of Second Step, which helps students build skills in empathy, problem-solving, and responsible decision-making. Our school-wide focus on kindness serves as the foundation for preventing bullying and promoting positive relationships. Through our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) framework, students are explicitly taught expectations and recognized for making positive choices.